Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announces state-wide ban on Hookah

Karnataka government imposes immediate ban on tobacco and non-tobacco hookah in public places.

Published on: Feb 8, 2024, 10:34:53 IST

By Yamini C S

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Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday announced a blanket ban on Hookah across the state in a bid to tackle tobacco-related diseases.

The department also said this ban will address the illegal operation of several Hookah bars in Karnataka, especially those located close to educational institutions. (Representational image)

The state health department issued a circular dated Wednesday which said the Karnataka government has instituted an immediate ban on the use and sale of both tobacco and non-tobacco Hookah in public establishments across the state.

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“This decisive action is backed by alarming data from the WHO Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2016-17 (GATS-2), which states that 22.8% of adults in Karnataka use tobacco, with 8.8% being smokers,” A statement by the department noted. As many as 23.9% of adults are exposed to second-hand smoke in public places, demonstrating the pervasive risk of tobacco consumption in the state, it added.

The use and sale of Hookah has been banned effective immediately from hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges, cafes, clubs, and other establishments.

The department stated that the WHO Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2019) has found nearly one-fifth of students aged between 13 - 15 have consumed tobacco in some form.

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"Tobacco-based shisha and "herbal" shisha emit smoke laden with toxic agents, heightening the risk of cancers, heart disease, and lung disease," The statement further said.

“The economic burden of tobacco is equally concerning, with Karnataka incurring a cost of ₹983 crores in 2011 due to tobacco-related illnesses among individuals aged 35-69,” It added.

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The department also said this ban will address the illegal operation of several Hookah bars in Karnataka, especially those located close to educational institutions. “The Health Minister of Karnataka reaffirms the state's responsibility to promote the health of its people and to eliminate health hazards,” The statement concluded.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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