The Karnataka High Court has upheld the state government s ban on the sale of hookah items, citing health risks associated with hookah smoking. The court s decision is in line with Article 47 of the Indian Constitution, which aims to prevent the consumption of intoxicating beverages and harmful drugs.
The state government of Karnataka has imposed a ban on hookah bars, including the sale and promotion of hookah and its related ingredients. The decision aims to safeguard public health and safety as hookahs are often used in enclosed spaces and shared among multiple individuals, increasing the risk of transmitting diseases.
The government plans to increase the age limit for buying tobacco items to 21 years and ban hookah bars due to concerns over their addictive nature and uncertainty about their ingredients. The government also plans to expand the ban on tobacco sales from 100 meters around educational institutions to include religious, health services, and government institutions.