Karnataka bans sale and consumption of hookahs in public spaces with immediate effect

The Karnataka Health Department Wednesday issued a notification banning the sale and consumption of hookah with immediate effect. In view of protecting ‘public health’, the government has banned the sale of hookah in hookah bars citing violation of state fire control and fire safety laws. The ban also comes in the backdrop of a fire accident at a hookah bar in Koramangala last year which did not comply with fire and safety regulations.

In its order, the Karnataka government stated: “The hookah bar is a cause of state fire hazards and violates state fire control and fire safety laws. Consumption of hookah in hotels, bars and restaurants makes food items unsafe for public consumption and may adversely affect public health. In general, the sale, consumption, and advertising of hookah products known as hookah tobacco or nicotine- containing nicotine-free tobacco-free, flavored, unflavored hookah molasses, shisha and other similar names and the producing, procuring, trading of the same has been banned with immediate effect in the interest of public health in the state.”

The state government also ordered that violators will be booked 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 and Indian Penal Code and Fire Control and Fire Protection Act.

The state health department highlighted that hookah is a product that is consumed orally through a nozzle or pipe device in a sealed container. The consumption of hookah spreads infectious diseases like herpes, tuberculosis, hepatitis, Covid-19 and other diseases through the mouth, it said.

The government referred to studies that point out 45 minutes of hookah smoking is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes and is harmful to health. According to the report of the World Health Organization, hookah is an addictive substance that contains high amounts of nicotine or tobacco and molasses or flavouring substances containing the chemical carbon monoxide, which is very dangerous to health.

During the winter session of Karnataka Assembly in 2023, Karnataka’s home minister G Parameshwara had announced that the state would soon come up with a law to regulate hookah bars in the state.

“The government will initiate stringent measures to curb hookah bars and the sale of other narcotic substances. The number of hookah bars in the state has increased over the years,” the minister had said.

According to the data tabled in the Assembly, more than 100 cases were filed against hookah bars in the last four years — 18 in 2020, 25 in 2021, 38 in 2022 and 25 in 2023.

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