Karnataka bans Hookah bars, raises age for tobacco consumption to 21
The Karnataka government has notified a legislation that prohibits hookah bars, raises the legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21 years, and increases the fine for violations.
The notification was issued on May 30, following the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2024, receiving the assent of the President on May 23.
The Act that prohibits the use of tobacco products in public places says, No person shall use tobacco products in any public place.
It says, "use" means smoking and spitting of tobacco.
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However, in a hotel having thirty rooms or a restaurant having a seating capacity of thirty persons or more, and in airports, a separate provision for a smoking area or space may be made, it added.
Section 4A of the Act prohibits the opening or running of hookah bars.
"No person shall either on his own or behalf of any other person shall open or run any hookah bar, in any place including the eating house or pub or bar or restaurant by whatever name it is called," it said.
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According to the Act, "hookah" bar means an establishment or place where people gather to smoke tobacco or other similar products from a communal hookah or narghile, which is provided individually.
Regarding punishment for running hookah bar, the Act says, whoever contravenes the provisions of section 4A, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but may extend up to one lakh rupees.
The act prohibits the sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products to a person below the age of twenty-one years in a particular area.
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"No person shall sell, offer for sale or permit the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is under the age of twenty-one years. It cannot be sold in an area within a radius of one hundred meters of any educational institution; and it cannot be sold in loose or in single sticks," it said.
Under Sections 21, 24 and 28 of the Act, the fine for smoking in a public place and for the sale of tobacco to people aged 21 and below has been increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
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