- Legislation: COTPA (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024.
- Purpose: Reduce tobacco addiction and improve public health standards.
- Key Reforms:
- Legal Age: Raised the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 21 years.
- Hookah Bars: Imposed a statewide ban on all hookah bars.
- Loose Cigarettes: Prohibits the sale of loose cigarettes.
- Public Smoking Fine: Increased the fine for public smoking to ₹1,000.
- Legal Standing: The High Court upheld the ban on hookah bars.
- Constitutional Basis: The High Court cited Article 47 of the Constitution of India.