A LARGE rise in the number of shisha bars is posing a health risk, the council has claimed.
Brent Council is issuing a warning to residents of the risks associated with shisha pipe smoking following a crackdown on bars which flout smoke-free legislation.
There are more than 50 venues which offer the flavoured pipe tobacco in the borough, which has risen from roughly 12 in 2009.
Research by Cancer Research UK showed that a typical hour-long shisha session can see users inhale the same amount of smoke as from more than 100 cigarettes and the tobacco contains over 36 times more tar as cigarette tobacco.
Brent’s lead member for crime and public safety, councillor Lincoln Beswick, said: “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.
“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.”
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.
On November 13, 2012, Nilesh Amlani, 53, proprietor of the Spicerack public house and restaurant in Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, and his employee admitted, at Willesden Magistrates’ Court, permitting shisha smoking to take place in a smoke-free area of the premises.
He was fined £920 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,000, as well as a £15 victim support surcharge. Employee Dinesh Padwal, 22, was fined £223 for serving the tobacco.
On the same day Hamed Noorzada, 46, and Eamon and Adam Shober, both 39, were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,439 each.
As company directors of Babylon Palace of 89 Kenton Road, Kenton, they admitted permitting shisha smoking at their premises.
