Karnataka: Government plans to ban hookah bars

Karnataka is gearing up to enact a series of measures aimed at curbing the prevalence of hookah bars and enhancing regulations on tobacco sales.

The state government intends to impose a ban on hookah bars and raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 years to 21 years.

This decision stems from mounting concerns regarding the growing number of minors frequenting hookah bars and the addictive nature of hookah smoking.

To enforce this ban effectively, the government plans to issue an official order and collaborate with law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, there will be an extension of the ban on tobacco product sales within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions, places of worship, healthcare facilities, and government establishments.

Additionally, the government is set to introduce amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature.

A group of medical professionals has published a report highlighting that smoking hookah for 30 to 45 minutes is equivalent to smoking 100 to 150 cigarettes.

The government's commitment to these measures is reinforced by its decision to issue a Government Order (GO) in conjunction with law enforcement agencies for the implementation of these changes.