In a significant move to enhance public health, the Karnataka government has announced a ban on smokeless tobacco products in public areas, coinciding with World No Tobacco Day. This decision, spearheaded by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, involves an amendment to the COTPA Act, which now prohibits the use of hookah and other smokeless tobacco items.

The state government has received presidential approval for this initiative, and a formal notification has been issued. Henceforth, both smoking and the consumption of smokeless tobacco products are forbidden in public spaces across Karnataka. The health risks associated with smokeless tobacco, particularly in the context of airborne viruses, have been a concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and for individuals suffering from tuberculosis.

Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who has been attentive to these health challenges, successfully amended the COPTA Act to bolster public health protections, gaining approval from both legislative houses. As this is a central law, it was subsequently forwarded for presidential consent, which has now been granted.

The Minister emphasized that these regulations are vital for protecting public health, calling the official order on World No Tobacco Day a praiseworthy initiative. In addition to the existing restrictions on tobacco use in public, the new regulations also ban chewing and spitting tobacco. Furthermore, the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 years of age is now prohibited, and hookah use is banned in restaurants, bars, and pubs.

The penalty for smoking in public has been raised from Rs 200 to Rs 1000. Additionally, the law imposes severe fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh and potential three-year prison sentences for violations related to hookah bars.