Karnataka implements statewide ban on hookah smoking to safeguard public health
Image used for representational purposes.
Karnataka’s Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, declared the immediate enforcement of a statewide ban on hookah smoking, emphasizing the commitment to “protect public health and youth.”
Rao cited the substantial health risks associated with hookah smoking as the driving force behind this decision.
The ban, implemented by amending the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), aims to create a safer and healthier environment for future generations.
The move follows the state’s health minister’s earlier consideration in September 2023 to ban hookah bars and raise the legal age for tobacco consumption from 18 to 21 years.
This decision aligns with a broader trend, as last year, Haryana also imposed a ban on serving hookah in various commercial establishments, excluding traditional hookahs used in rural areas.
