The Karnataka government has decided to ban hookah bars in the state and also increase the minimum legal age to buy tobacco at 21. The announcements were made by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Sports and Youth Services Minister B. Nagendra on Tuesday.
Previously, the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products was 18 years. The ministers said that the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (Cotpa) will be amended to implement the decisions.
Rao also said consumption and sale of tobacco are prohibited near temples, and hospitals along with schools. The youth are attracted towards hookah bars and it is impacting their health adversely.
The sale of tobacco products to youth below the age of 21 is also prohibited. After smoking, the youth are getting attracted towards drugs and narcotics substances. The use of tobacco products served as the foundation in this direction and the government is addressing the root cause of the problem, he added.
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