No Smoking At All In Restaurants Of Karnataka Says Govt

According to a circular issued by the government of Karnataka, the restaurants are to become completely smoke free. The decision was taken at a joint consultation meeting called the  Advancing Urban Health Policies, Key Policies for NCD Prevention reports F&B News. The meeting was organised by the state government along with National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) and the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions.

Keep Smoke Away

“Recent studies indicate that there is no safe-level of second hand smoking. We are concerned about the health of the staff at hotels and bars, and customers, especially women and children, in light of all scientific evidence pointing out that second-hand smoking is as harmful as smoking. This issue needs to be addressed on priority. We have significant evidence from the world’s best cities that making smoke-free hotel environments improves business. We are confident that hotel and bar associations across the state will welcome and support this initiative. Hotels, clubs and bars owe a legal and moral responsibility of protecting the right to health of their staff and customers,” said U T Khader, minister for urban development and housing, Government of Karnataka in a statement reports F&B News.

“We are happy that the earlier circular issued by BBMP to make bars and restaurants in Bengaluru city go smoke-free is being effectively implemented. Now this new circular will make bars and restaurants in the state go smoke-free. This important measure is taken to safeguard the public from the harms of second-hand smoke by removing illegal smoking areas,” said Dr Alexander Thomas, president, Association of Healthcare Providers (India).