Little hope left for hookah bars

Publication Date: 2009-08-03

• Author:James Romoser
• Publication:News & Observer

A proposed exemption of hookah bars from the new statewide smoking ban has collapsed.

State Rep. Cullie Tarleton, a Watauga County Democrat, had been pushing a bill to allow hookah bars to stay in business after North Carolina's smoking ban for restaurants and bars goes into effect in January.

But Tarleton says he has withdrawn the bill at the request of owners of hookah bars, who complained that amendments to the bill would have put new, unfair restrictions on them...

Without a legal exemption, hookah bars will have to either stop allowing hookah smoking, or stop serving all food and beverages. As a practical matter, either of those actions would put them out of business, some hookah bar owners say.

The problem stems from the smoking ban that was passed by the legislature in May. The ban, which will take effect Jan. 2, outlaws smoking in indoor areas of nearly all bars and restaurants.

The law allows a few exemptions. Cigar bars, country clubs and nonprofit fraternal organizations such as Elks lodges may continue to allow smoking. But no such exemption was granted for hookah bars.