Brent is issuing a warning to local residents of the risks associated with shisha pipe smoking following a huge rise in local shisha bars in recent years.
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The warning comes as the council cracks down on shisha bars that flout smoke-free legislation.
The number of businesses in Brent where people can smoke shisha pipes is estimated to have risen from approximately 12 in 2009 to over 50 today with many shisha smokers believing it is a healthier or safer option than cigarettes.
However, according to Cancer Research UK, a typical hour-long shisha session can see users inhale the same amount of smoke as from more than 100 cigarettes.
What is even more alarming is that shisha tobacco contains over 36 times more tar and twice as much nicotine as cigarette tobacco so it is not only more addictive but carries a far greater risk of causing lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.
In the last three months, the council has prosecuted the owners of three Brent shisha bars for allowing their customers to smoke in their premises in breach of smoke-free legislation.
The law requires that smoking should not take place in buildings or structures that are ‘substantially enclosed’ and in all three cases, the bars were not constructed in accordance with this rule.
Full details of the three cases are as follows:
CASE 1
On 13 November 2012, the proprietor of the Spicerack public house and restaurant at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, and his employee pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court for permitting shisha smoking to take place in a smoke-free area of the premises.
Proprietor Mr Nilesh Amlani, aged 53, was fined £920 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,000 as well as a £15 victim support surcharge. Employee Mr Dinesh Padwal, aged 22, was actually serving the shisha to the customers and was fined £223.
During the hearing the court heard that officers from Brent’s Consumer and Business Protection team saw 16 customers smoking shisha pipes in an area at the rear which was substantially enclosed and, as such, should have been smoke-free during an inspection.
CASE 2
The company directors of Babylon Palace of 89 Kenton Road, Kenton, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court to permitting shisha smoking at their premises.
At the hearing on 13 November 2012, the three directors, Mr Hamed Noorzada (aged 46) and Eamon and Adam Shober (both aged 39) were each fined £333 and ordered to pay costs and victim support surcharges of £465 and £15 respectively (totalling £2,439 each).
The court heard that officers visited the Babylon Palace on 6 August 2012 and noticed several customers smoking shisha pipes under an awning that was substantially enclosed at the front of the premises.
CASE 3
Mr Jalal Abas, the director of DOAAA Ltd was found guilty by Willesden Magistrates on 11 December 2012 and handed a fine of £1,500 for allowing shisha smoking at his premises after he failed to appear at court. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,309 and a victim support surcharge of £15.
Magistrates heard that on 9 August 2012 officers visited the defendant’s business trading as Dubai Express from Rosemont Road, Wembley, and saw customers smoking in an enclosed area in the front of the building constructed with bamboo and plastic sheeting.
Brent’s Lead Member for Crime and Public Safety, Councillor Lincoln Beswick, said: “In recent years there has been a huge rise in the number of people smoking shisha pipes and there are now over 50 businesses in Brent that provide this service.
“Unfortunately, a number of shisha bar owners seem to think shisha smoking is exempt from the smoke-free laws, whereas it is treated in exactly the same way as other forms of smoking.
“There is also a belief amongst the general public that shisha smoking is safe. However, the public should not be fooled as shisha contains more nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and other cancer-causing chemicals and is a bigger risk to health than your average cigarette.
“Brent’s aim is to protect our residents by ensuring they are not exposed to smoke in areas which should be smoke-free and we will not hesitate in taking legal proceedings against businesses that permit any form of smoking on their premises.”
