Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has banned the sale and consumption of hookah in view of the safety and health of the people.
Recently, in a post on X, the Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “Statewide ban on hookah to protect public health and youth. Given the serious health risks associated with hookah smoking, we have taken decisive action by banning hookah smoking across the state”.
The sale, purchase, publicity, marketing and consumption of all hookah products and sheesha have been banned with immediate effect, said the government order.
Anyone found violating the ban will be charged under COTPA (Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act ) 2003, Child Care and Protection Act 2015, Food Safety and Quality Act 2006, Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015, Fire Control and Fire Protection Act, and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The consumption of hookah spreads infectious diseases like herpes, tuberculosis, hepatitis, Covid-19 and other diseases through the mouth.
Hookah is already banned in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab.
Last year in September month, the state health minister announced that the Karnataka government was considering a ban on hookah bars and also increase the the legal age for tobacco consumption from 18 to 21 years.
