75A - PH-HOOKAH PARLORS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2007-06 Ordinance Amendment No. 2008-01 January 14, 2008 Page 2 operation is denoted by the smoking of flavored or unflavored tobacco or other substances through one or more pipes (commonly known as a hookah, waterpipe, shisha or narghile) designed with a tube passing through an urn of water that cools the smoke as it is drawn through it, including but not limited to, establishments known variously as hookah bars, hookah lounges or hookah cafes. Numerous health and medical research organizations have published articles concerning the risks and addictive nature associated with smoking hookah tobacco. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about the common misconception that inhaling tobacco through water reduces the risks associated with cigarette smoking as unfounded (Exhibit 1). A person can inhale more than 100 times more smoke in one hookah session than with a single cigarette. According to Dr. Christopher Loffredo, PhD., Director of the Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology program at Georgetown University Medical Center, a person can inhale "high levels of toxic compounds including high levels of carbon monoxide, metals and cancer-causing chemicals" creating serious health risk for the smoker and non-smokers as well. Dr. Loffredo expressed another concern in that hookah use may represent a loophole around city and state laws banning smoking in public places. If hookah parlors are left unregulated they may pose a threat to public interest, health and safety. Many hookah bar owners claim they are tobacco retailers (like a cigar shop) and current State law does not clearly repudiate this claim. This allows tobacco smoking inside establishments where people work, eat and drink. Hookah is not a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. Smoking hookah pipes has been reported to cause oral, esophageal and lung cancer, as well as heart disease, chronic bronchitis and of course, nicotine addiction. The City Council approved an ordinance in November 2006 to require the licensure of tobacco retailers to protect the health of the City's youth by reducing access to tobacco products. The City Council further has expressed interest in discouraging resident's exposure to tobacco products through the approval of the hookah parlor moratorium. Hookah parlors both in other parts of Orange County and nationally, have generated hundreds of police service calls for public loitering, public drinking and intoxication, possession of illegal weapons and noise. These calls included complaints about loud music and DJ's at party and rave events at these establishments, open business doors that allow music and 7 5A-4