‘Shisha smokers need educating over law’

8:56am Saturday 1st December 2012 in News

THE “shisha community” needs to be educated about smoking laws, a Bolton councillor says.

Cllr Bob Allen, who represents Heaton and Lostock, made the calls at the Environmental Services Scrutiny Committee.

He said owners of the cafes should be made aware that smoking shisha in a bar is illegal, just like smoking a cigarette in a pub.

He added: “Because of the culture, there may be a misunderstanding. Perhaps it’s about educating the shisha community.

“We should treat it exactly the same as smoking.”

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for the environment, said councillors must not start a “witch-hunt”

against the cafes.

He added: “It’s part of the culture in many places in Manchester and London.

“Why would you want to shut them down, unless there’s illegal activities happening?”

Councillors raised concern about young people being in the cafes late at night.

Cllr Sean Harkin said: “The position of young people in shisha cafes must be a bit ambiguous. There’s nothing that stops them from being there. The only time an offence takes place is if they are being sold tobacco.”

The councillor’s comments follow a Bolton Council crackdown on cafes to ensure they are complying with anti-smoking laws.

Half of the six Bolton shisha cafes were found to be non-compliant during checks, including the Arabian Lounge and Hollywood Hookah in Derby Street and Arabian Mist in Gilnow Lane.

Smoking is permitted in an outside area or shelter — but only if 50 per cent of it is open to the air.

Council inspectors have been issuing on-the-spot £50 fines to anyone under the age of 18 caught smoking in Bolton’s shisha bars.

The legal age for people to have tobacco in any form is 18.

According to research, smoking shisha is just as.

dangerous as smoking cigarettes. However, shisha bars are becoming increasingly popular.

Traders in Manchester’s Curry Mile say the number of restaurants has halved in the last three years and they have been replaced with shisha bars

Comments (23)

9:07am Sat 1 Dec 12

PDY says...

Abide by the law or get shut down, simple. No if's, but's or maybe's. They know the law and Nick Peel should stop using patronising words like " we don't want to start a witch hunt against the cafes". Why use words like "witch hunt" they are breaking the law just like people park on double yellow lines or drop litter in the street. The only reason that the full force of the law has not been brought to bear is the race issue. If it was a fish and chip shop it would have been closed down long ago. How many warnings do these people need?
Abide by the law or get shut down, simple. No if's, but's or maybe's. They know the law and Nick Peel should stop using patronising words like " we don't want to start a witch hunt against the cafes". Why use words like "witch hunt" they are breaking the law just like people park on double yellow lines or drop litter in the street. The only reason that the full force of the law has not been brought to bear is the race issue. If it was a fish and chip shop it would have been closed down long ago. How many warnings do these people need? PDY

10:37am Sat 1 Dec 12

Phil from Smithills says...

These shisha smokers seem that they want to be exempt from our smoking laws.
It is illegal to smoke in public places and that means pubs & shisha bars. Obay the laws of the country.
These shisha smokers seem that they want to be exempt from our smoking laws. It is illegal to smoke in public places and that means pubs & shisha bars. Obay the laws of the country. Phil from Smithills

10:42am Sat 1 Dec 12

mustafa-moan says...

They know the law but just choose to ignore it, man made law is not practiced by these people, only gods law is followed!
They know the law but just choose to ignore it, man made law is not practiced by these people, only gods law is followed! mustafa-moan

11:17am Sat 1 Dec 12

Willow311 says...

To say its culture to smoke in shisha bars and thus should be treated differently than bars etc. Is unbelievable, it was uk culture to smoke in pubs etc and that was stopped...rightly so but not popular at the time. Many establishments have said that they have been struggling to get people through the doors since the smoking ban. And so they have lost money.
Surely we are doing the people visiting and running these shisha bars a miss justice by ignoring the goings on... The ban was supposedly to save lives....are these people's lives not worth saving also?
Surely anyone turning a blind eye is susceptible to getting sued when customers get smoking related illness..
To say its culture to smoke in shisha bars and thus should be treated differently than bars etc. Is unbelievable, it was uk culture to smoke in pubs etc and that was stopped...rightly so but not popular at the time. Many establishments have said that they have been struggling to get people through the doors since the smoking ban. And so they have lost money. Surely we are doing the people visiting and running these shisha bars a miss justice by ignoring the goings on... The ban was supposedly to save lives....are these people's lives not worth saving also? Surely anyone turning a blind eye is susceptible to getting sued when customers get smoking related illness.. Willow311

1:18pm Sat 1 Dec 12

chas says...

It is not a criminal offence for a person under 18 to smoke. It is only illegal for shops to sell to under 18s.
Shisha users are mainly inhaling and exhaling flavoured wated.
It is not a criminal offence for a person under 18 to smoke. It is only illegal for shops to sell to under 18s. Shisha users are mainly inhaling and exhaling flavoured wated. chas

2:17pm Sat 1 Dec 12

boltonnut says...

I suggest regular people boycott these places,I assume these smokers are spending minimal amounts of money bringing little revenue.Sooner or later the owners might catch on,unless Iam totaly naive about what goes on behind closed .
I suggest regular people boycott these places,I assume these smokers are spending minimal amounts of money bringing little revenue.Sooner or later the owners might catch on,unless Iam totaly naive about what goes on behind closed . boltonnut

2:20pm Sat 1 Dec 12

boltonnut says...

OOPS...curtains!!!!!
!!
OOPS...curtains!!!!! !! boltonnut

2:39pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Andy Higham says...

STOP using culture as an excuse. It was british culture to smoke in pubs now that is illegal.
When the owners of these establishments applied to the council for a license, did the council officials really think that the patrons would buy the shisha and then hawk it and a hookah out onto the pavement to smoke it? i think not
It is illegal to smoke in a public enclosed space FULL STOP, A pub landlord can get a £50,000 fine if someone smokes in the toilet without his knowledge. apply the law here as well.
I will let you all into a secret, appyling the law is NOT racist
STOP using culture as an excuse. It was british culture to smoke in pubs now that is illegal. When the owners of these establishments applied to the council for a license, did the council officials really think that the patrons would buy the shisha and then hawk it and a hookah out onto the pavement to smoke it? i think not It is illegal to smoke in a public enclosed space FULL STOP, A pub landlord can get a £50,000 fine if someone smokes in the toilet without his knowledge. apply the law here as well. I will let you all into a secret, appyling the law is NOT racist Andy Higham

4:08pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Les C Rocker says...

Smoking in any public place is illegal in this country,simple as that,you can't make exceptions, otherwise the pubs and clubs that are loosing trade due to the smoking regulations, are being victimised against, I know ,lets make an exception for pubs and clubs too,lets make a complete joke of the laws of the country, oh ,wait a minute though,local councils are already doing that
Smoking in any public place is illegal in this country,simple as that,you can't make exceptions, otherwise the pubs and clubs that are loosing trade due to the smoking regulations, are being victimised against, I know ,lets make an exception for pubs and clubs too,lets make a complete joke of the laws of the country, oh ,wait a minute though,local councils are already doing that Les C Rocker

4:23pm Sat 1 Dec 12

Reality50 says...

Shisha bars should be illegal and many have been linked to Muslim child grooming dens.
Shisha bars should be illegal and many have been linked to Muslim child grooming dens. Reality50

11:08pm Sat 1 Dec 12

james291 says...

Shisha bars were set up for the sole purpose of shisha pipe smoking. Smokers should have just as much right to meet up and socialise indoors as non smokers. The smoking ban needs to be amended for pubs,clubs and shisha bars so people can go out and socialise again.
Millions of people now stay at home no longer visiting pubs and are excluded from the social scene.

Why should smokers be forced to sit outside in freezing temperatures and be treated like social pariahs when air management systems effectively deal with the perceived problem.
The smoking ban is not working and this draconian law needs to be changed for the sake of peoples businesses and social lives.
Shisha bars were set up for the sole purpose of shisha pipe smoking. Smokers should have just as much right to meet up and socialise indoors as non smokers. The smoking ban needs to be amended for pubs,clubs and shisha bars so people can go out and socialise again. Millions of people now stay at home no longer visiting pubs and are excluded from the social scene. Why should smokers be forced to sit outside in freezing temperatures and be treated like social pariahs when air management systems effectively deal with the perceived problem. The smoking ban is not working and this draconian law needs to be changed for the sake of peoples businesses and social lives. james291

11:19pm Sat 1 Dec 12

james291 says...

Many shisha bars were set up for the sole purpose of shisha pipe smoking. Smokers should have just as much right to meet up and socialise indoors as non smokers. The smoking ban needs to be amended for pubs,clubs and shisha bars, so people can go out and socialise again.
There are possibly millions of people, now staying at home no longer visiting pubs that are completely excluded from the social scene.

Why should smokers be forced to sit outside in freezing temperatures and be treated like social pariahs; when air management systems effectively deals with the perceived problem.
The smoking ban is not working and this draconian law needs to be changed for the sake of peoples businesses and their social lives.
Many shisha bars were set up for the sole purpose of shisha pipe smoking. Smokers should have just as much right to meet up and socialise indoors as non smokers. The smoking ban needs to be amended for pubs,clubs and shisha bars, so people can go out and socialise again. There are possibly millions of people, now staying at home no longer visiting pubs that are completely excluded from the social scene. Why should smokers be forced to sit outside in freezing temperatures and be treated like social pariahs; when air management systems effectively deals with the perceived problem. The smoking ban is not working and this draconian law needs to be changed for the sake of peoples businesses and their social lives. james291

1:27pm Sun 2 Dec 12

marma495 says...

James291.
I absolutely agree with you.
Still waiting of someone complaining that they cannot go into a shisha bar because of the smoke. Ha,ha.
Now more than five years since the smoking ban was introduced it is becoming increasingly clear that the supporters of smokefree pubs never had any intention of going to them anyway. This stupid law is fuelling the recession, costing jobs and raising everyone's taxes.
James291. I absolutely agree with you. Still waiting of someone complaining that they cannot go into a shisha bar because of the smoke. Ha,ha. Now more than five years since the smoking ban was introduced it is becoming increasingly clear that the supporters of smokefree pubs never had any intention of going to them anyway. This stupid law is fuelling the recession, costing jobs and raising everyone's taxes. marma495

9:06am Mon 3 Dec 12

Sirrius7 says...

Close the shisha bars down, if Muslims want to smoke, they can do it at home surely.
Close the shisha bars down, if Muslims want to smoke, they can do it at home surely. Sirrius7

9:18am Mon 3 Dec 12

Harry-Joe says...

chas wrote:
It is not a criminal offence for a person under 18 to smoke. It is only illegal for shops to sell to under 18s.
Shisha users are mainly inhaling and exhaling flavoured wated.
Its flavored tobacco.
Just cause its flavored doesn't mean its ok. It still has the same effect on peoples health.
[quote][p][bold]chas[/bold] wrote: It is not a criminal offence for a person under 18 to smoke. It is only illegal for shops to sell to under 18s. Shisha users are mainly inhaling and exhaling flavoured wated.[/p][/quote]Its flavored tobacco. Just cause its flavored doesn't mean its ok. It still has the same effect on peoples health. Harry-Joe

9:31am Mon 3 Dec 12

Harry-Joe says...

Its not about race or culture its about breaking the law. If anyone is caught smoking in a pub they are prosecuted. Same Law should apply to Shisha bars.

People go on about being treated as equals. This is a prime example of how the politicians and government idiots like to treat us all differently according to culture. They cause more than half the animosity between different cultures.

I bet most Shisha bars are law abiding just like most pubs. No one is saying shut them all down, just shut down the ones that flout the law.

Nick Peels give your head a shake your comment is just utter rubbish!
Its not about race or culture its about breaking the law. If anyone is caught smoking in a pub they are prosecuted. Same Law should apply to Shisha bars. People go on about being treated as equals. This is a prime example of how the politicians and government idiots like to treat us all differently according to culture. They cause more than half the animosity between different cultures. I bet most Shisha bars are law abiding just like most pubs. No one is saying shut them all down, just shut down the ones that flout the law. Nick Peels give your head a shake your comment is just utter rubbish! Harry-Joe

10:00am Mon 3 Dec 12

zoomzam says...

Its a shame that Bolton boxer Amir Khan gives his thumbs up on twitter to these smoking joints. Someone should educate him about the perils of smoking.They should be banned; full stop. Smoking is a danger to one's health.
Its a shame that Bolton boxer Amir Khan gives his thumbs up on twitter to these smoking joints. Someone should educate him about the perils of smoking.They should be banned; full stop. Smoking is a danger to one's health. zoomzam

10:01am Mon 3 Dec 12

zoomzam says...

Shisha joints become drug joints....very quickly!
Shisha joints become drug joints....very quickly! zoomzam

2:01pm Mon 3 Dec 12

boltonnut says...

Recalling a incident afew years ago,sitting in a bar with two pals one was smoking a pipe,the owner who had afag in his mouth told us it was against the house rules to smoke a pipe ,put it out or leave.Just for the hell of it my other pal produce two cigars and my pals lit them up ,again they were told quit or leave the reason being that pipe and cigar smoke was offensive to his cutomers, (said with fag in gob).Smoking is smoking as I see it,any way we had a good laugh about it when we realised we were ejected and had not paid our substansial bil.Asked jokingly if we should go back my pals replied no we are still smoking our cigars.monday morning musing.
Recalling a incident afew years ago,sitting in a bar with two pals one was smoking a pipe,the owner who had afag in his mouth told us it was against the house rules to smoke a pipe ,put it out or leave.Just for the hell of it my other pal produce two cigars and my pals lit them up ,again they were told quit or leave the reason being that pipe and cigar smoke was offensive to his cutomers, (said with fag in gob).Smoking is smoking as I see it,any way we had a good laugh about it when we realised we were ejected and had not paid our substansial bil.Asked jokingly if we should go back my pals replied no we are still smoking our cigars.monday morning musing. boltonnut

4:26pm Mon 3 Dec 12

The Bullet says...

zoomzam wrote:
Its a shame that Bolton boxer Amir Khan gives his thumbs up on twitter to these smoking joints. Someone should educate him about the perils of smoking.They should be banned; full stop. Smoking is a danger to one's health.
He actually owns one in Bolton.
[quote][p][bold]zoomzam[/bold] wrote: Its a shame that Bolton boxer Amir Khan gives his thumbs up on twitter to these smoking joints. Someone should educate him about the perils of smoking.They should be banned; full stop. Smoking is a danger to one's health.[/p][/quote]He actually owns one in Bolton. The Bullet

12:48pm Tue 4 Dec 12

boltoncity says...

Ban them , nothing but an excuse to smoke more illegal substances.
Shut them all down i say.
Ban them , nothing but an excuse to smoke more illegal substances. Shut them all down i say. boltoncity

4:17pm Tue 4 Dec 12

riding48 says...

I thought England was, being the operative word, a free country. When will the govt. stop treating us like infantile children who need protection from the big bad world,If they want to stop people smoking, ban selling cigarettes, oops cannt do that because of the tax they get, they are so two faced, they will gladly take the tax on cigarettes, but make us smoke outside pubs. Ok restaurants no smoking fine, but the good old boozer its part of its charm. Its not even an english law it came from Brusseles, when have we ever given a toss about what europe think! England get some balls and just light up, they cannt shut us all down there would be a civil war.
I thought England was, being the operative word, a free country. When will the govt. stop treating us like infantile children who need protection from the big bad world,If they want to stop people smoking, ban selling cigarettes, oops cannt do that because of the tax they get, they are so two faced, they will gladly take the tax on cigarettes, but make us smoke outside pubs. Ok restaurants no smoking fine, but the good old boozer its part of its charm. Its not even an english law it came from Brusseles, when have we ever given a toss about what europe think! England get some balls and just light up, they cannt shut us all down there would be a civil war. riding48

9:18am Fri 7 Dec 12

elimeleumas says...

If anyone needs a smoking shelter by the way ... http://www.aquila-sh
elters.co.uk/discuss
/2012/12/half-of-shi
sha-cafes-are-non-co
mpliant/
If anyone needs a smoking shelter by the way ... http://www.aquila-sh elters.co.uk/discuss /2012/12/half-of-shi sha-cafes-are-non-co mpliant/ elimeleumas

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