Karnataka raises legal age for tobacco consumption to 21

Newsdesk:
The Karnataka government has notified a strict law regarding tobacco products. Under this new law, the minimum age for purchasing tobacco has now been increased from 18 to 21 years, as well as the use of tobacco in public places has been completely banned. This notification was issued on May 30, when the President gave his assent to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Production, Supply and Distribution) Karnataka Amendment Bill, 2024 on May 23.
According to the new law, now no person can use tobacco in any public place.  However, special smoking zones can be created at certain places such as hotels with 30 rooms or more, restaurants with a seating capacity of 30 or more people, airports.
Under Section 4A of the new law, opening or running hookah bars in the state has now been completely banned. It states that no person can open a hookah bar in his name or in the name of someone else, whether it is an eating house, pub, bar, restaurant or any place running under any name.