Karnataka to ban hookah bars, raise age for buying cigarettes to 21

The Karnataka government has decided to ban hookah bars within the State and is also considering raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products (cigarettes) from 18 to 21 years.

Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and ST Welfare B Nagendra on September 19 informed the same in a press conference.

Rao also tweeted a statement from his official Twitter handle about the State's plans to introduce a separate law to ban hookah bars.

"Considering the well-being of the state’s citizens, our Government has decided to ban hookah bars in the state by framing a separate act. The decision is intended to discourage the consumption of tobacco products by the youth and ensure they have a healthy future," he said.

The government intends to implement these changes by making amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in the upcoming winter session of the State legislature.

The ministers also announced that the government is planning to issue an order and collaborate with the police to enforce the ban.

Rao also mentioned that the Department of Health and Family Welfare is suggesting further COTPA amendments such as increasing the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21.

"Earlier, it was 18 years, which resulted in a lot of underage children purchasing tobacco products. Now, we have moved an amendment to increase the age limit to 21 to buy any tobacco product," Rao said.