Namibian youth concerned over proposed hubbly bubbly ban

Hookah pipes, also known as hubbly bubbly, have taken the north by storm, with hookah lounges mushrooming across the O regions.

Many young people still in their early teens are fast getting hooked.

Amid the new trend, the parliament has recommended that Namibia ban the import and sale of hubbly and vaping products in the country.

Namibia imported around N$1.4 billion worth of water pipe tobacco (hookah tobacco), vapes and related mixtures between 2021 and 2024.

A parliamentary standing committee in May recommended an import ban as well as prohibiting the sale, hiring and use of hubbly and vaping products in Namibia.

This recommendation is found in the National Council’s standing committee on health, social welfare and labour affairs’ report released in May.

The report also proposes prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors below the age of 18, and the open display of any hookah pipes, flavours, vapes and e-cigarettes.

Over the weekend, The Namibian spoke to young people at several popular spots during the police patrol ‘Operation Lucia’, who shared their views on the ban of smoking hubbly bubbly.

Police deputy inspector major general Elias Mutota during the operation said the police note with great concern the high consumption of hubbly bubbly, especially among teenagers.

“When we were patrolling the pubs and bars around Oshakati and Ongwediva, we observed a high number of consumption of hubbly bubbly which is a big concern and a danger to our youth because they mix it with dangerous substances such as drugs. I just want to warn and caution the youth to avoid smoking hubbly bubbly because they are the leaders of tomorrow and we want them to be healthy leaders rather than letting them destroy their own health over peer pressure,” he said.

Mutota added that the police want the bill to be accelerated and put into effect as soon as possible to completely ban the use of hubbly bubbly and protect the nation against smoking dangerous substances.

A resident of Oneshila informal settlement at Oshakati, Amakali Severius, says he is against the ban of smoking hubbly bubbly because he believes it is safe and non-poisonous, unlike other substances such as drugs and cigarettes.

“Why are the police against the smoking of hubbly bubbly? This is one of the safest smoking methods that does not cause any harm to the human body. I am totally against the ban of smoking hubbly bubbly because it relaxes our minds and it’s a great time to catch up with friends,” he says.

Another regular patron at an Oshakati bar, Moses Shipanga, who is against the ban, says he prefers hubbly as it does not leave him with the stench of cigarette smoke.

“It’s classic. . . I’m not sure whether it’s harmful for my lungs or not but I have heard that it could cause cancer. I can go to a night joint and only spend N$20 huffing and puffing and not drink any beer, which is now expensive,” he says.

The Namibian recently reported that Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) chief executive Rolf Hansen says his organisation supports the proposal in parliament to ban hookah pipes.

He says CAN regularly receives complaints regarding the “escalated” use of hookah and similar products, especially by the youth and in public spaces, including schools and restaurants.

“We are very much in support thereof, as we observe many youngsters smoking hookah pipes, especially. It may not be smoked in public spaces and enclosed areas, but you will still find hookah pipes in lounges, restaurants and nightclubs,” Hansen says.

He calls for stronger police support to help manage community complaints.

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