Minimum age for smoking may go up from 18 to 21 in Karnataka

BENGALURU: The legal age for tobacco consumption may be increased from 18 to 21 in Karnataka, if the government has its way. The government recently held meetings with experts from the high-power committee for tobacco control, Government of Karnataka; the state anti-tobacco cell and healthcare sector to discuss possible ways of curbing the health hazards caused by chewable and other tobacco products.
“At present, the minimum age for smoking tobacco in Karnataka is 18 as per The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA). As per the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 (GATS 2), the starting age for tobacco consumption was 19.8 years. That’s because the minimum age to access tobacco products is 18. Hence, increasing the legal age by three years can reduce the tobacco burden,” said sources.
The meetings also decided to propose increasing fines for violations pertaining to tobacco sale and consumption from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. “A proposal in this regard will be sent to the Centre soon,” said a senior official from the health and family welfare department.
Dr US Vishal Rao, surgical oncologist and member of the high-power committee for tobacco control, said the move would be an important legal step and would bring down the number of youngsters taking to tobacco every year.
However, it requires amendments to Section 3 of the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Act 2001, which details prohibition of smoking, advertisement, sale and storage of smoking substances.
Smoking in public may get dearer
The proposal pertaining to smoking violations envisages rising the penalty amount from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. It seeks to enhance the fine for smoking in public places from Rs 200 to Rs 500 and for selling tobacco products to underage individuals from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.
The proposal requires amendments to the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Act 2001 and sections 4 (prohibition of smoking in all public places) and 6 (no person shall sell, offer for sale or permit sale of, cigarettes or any other tobacco products to any person who is aged under 18, and no person shall sell, offer for sale or permit sale of, cigarettes or any other tobacco product in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution) of the COTPA Act.