Hooplah over hookah

There are three head shops in Bloomington. There are a number of gas stations and freaky-deaky tapestry stores that sell water pipes.

But there are zero hookah bars.

And given current non-smoking ordinances, that’s not about to change.

Hookah is flavored tobacco smoked through a mouthpiece attached to a water pipe. It offers the rarely sought college opportunity for sober socializing.

Although personal equipment can still be purchased around campus by those 18 and older, convening usually occurs at home or in a car for its use.

Bloomington was the first city in Indiana to pass a “comprehensive” smoking ban, meaning that in 2004, inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any “combustible substance” was not only prohibited in all public buildings but had to occur at least 30 feet away from any possible entryway that smoke could seep through.

Smoking has no business being in a business.

Bloomington and Monroe Country enacted smoke-free ordinances for several reasons.
Namely, secondhand smoke exposure is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing 53,000 nonsmokers annually.

Hookah itself is not a “safer” option than any other kind of tobacco.

It may actually be more harmful than cigarettes because of longer smoking sessions and greater depth of inhalation.

A hookah session typically lasts an hour and averages 200 puffs compared to the 20 of a cigarette.

It also averages a volume of 90,000 milliliters of smoke inhaled instead of the 500 to 600 milliliters of a cigarette.

For these reasons, students can’t hit up hookah bars all the time like they go out to drink every weekend.

Additionally, uncontaminated air is said to benefit businesses.

While the ordinance admits “economic impact studies across the country demonstrate no negative impact or a positive impact” for smoking bans, there is a reportedly “higher market value for restaurants” and “lower cleaning and maintenance costs” where smoking is prohibited.

Allegedly, it also “reduces employee absenteeism,” “reduces insurance costs” and “increases food sales from non-smoking patrons.”

So I’m not asking that smoke bans be eradicated from Bloomington entirely.

But there’s just as much fiscal reasoning for a little alleviation.

Hookah is hugely popular for those aged 18-24.

Think of the economic boom that would occur if a town populated by that very demographic were to offer venues for this activity.

Although Indiana’s laws would axe about half that group because of their age, promotional interest in the activity would at least drive up head shop sales.

In the meantime, Indiana’s governance over hookah sales dictates for hookah and cigar bars to allow smoking within their premises, all who enter must be over 21 and the business must hold a beer, liquor or wine retailer’s permit.

So, here are some amendments I want made to promote hookah’s potential as a social experience outside of the bar scene:

A clause that modifies the “public place” rule so that hookah cafes can open.

A removal of the stipulation that hookah establishments have to serve alcohol.

A lowered hookah bar entry of 18.

Signs warning that hookah inhalation is not safer than any other kind of tobacco.

Hookah could then mind its own business, so to speak.

­— ashhendri@indiana.edu