K'taka govt plans to ban hookah bars and raises tobacco purchase age to 21

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The Karnataka government has announced plans to prohibit hookah bars across the state and raise the legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products to 21 years.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed that amendments to the Tobacco Act would be made to enact these changes.

This decision emerged following a meeting held on Tuesday at Vidhana Soudha, involving discussions between the health department and the sports and youth affairs department.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Youth Empower ment and Sports Minister B Nagendra participated in the meeting, emphasising that the prohibition of hookah bars aims to protect the state's future generation.

"We have observed individuals aged between 12 to 25 frequenting hookah bars. We are uncertain about the substances used in hookahs, but it appears to be addictive," said Gundu Rao.

B Nagendra highlighted a doctor's report indicating that smoking hookah for 35 to 40 minutes is equivalent to smoking 100-150 cigarettes. The Health Minister also confirmed that legal revisions to the Tobacco Act would enforce the increase in the legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products to 21 years.

Both ministers stressed the involvement of state police to ensure the effective implementation of the ban.