Blowing Up Smoke

(Here's a feature article I wrote for the E-Current magazine a few years ago)

Blowing up hookah

A look inside the newest trend of smoking hookah

Considered to be one of the fastest rising social trends, smoking hookah has become one of the most popular business ventures, while remaining one of the most dangerous activities since smoking cigarettes. Hookah, or the water pipe tobacco, has turned into one of Ann Arbor’s newest recreational success stories. Five separate businesses have sprung up over the past few years within the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor region, each capitalizing off the new found popularity social phenomenon. Creating a new scene for hanging outs, partying, studying and even dating, hookah bars have become the newest place to simply hang out or relax throughout the night.

The popularity of this product have been extremely successful within their short boom as George Kent, an employee at Rendezvous, one of three hookah bars located around Ann Arbor, illustrated their success on a casual night.

“We’ll have around a few hundred people each day on the weekend." Kent finished "People come in here to hang with friends; some come in here because the settings are more intimate and some just like to smoke”.

Regarding the hookah itself, several statistics find the addictive vapor extremely dangerous, as many will consider hookah an alternative to cigarettes. According to the CDC however, hookah is perhaps as equally harmful as smoking cigarettes. The CDC states

“Hookah smoke contains many of the same harmful toxins as cigarette smoke and has been associated with lung cancer, respiratory illness, low birth weight, and periodontal disease.”

According to users of hookah however, this is a risk many are just willing to take to enjoy the relaxing nature of hookah. Terren Ollison, a student at Eastern Michigan University, described her use as necessary at times.

“After a stressful week hookah mellows me out, I use it on my down time but most times it’s just to relax. I usually go out with friends but I have went out on a date to a hookah bar before, it’s more intimate.”

While costumer’s opinion spoke on the trendy hookah as a smoothing effect towards a stressful day, Hail-Hookah attendant, Jeremy Porris, acknowledged the CDC’s facts as a minimum concern for the success of their business. “It’s bad but everything in the world has some negatives about it. Hookah has some bad but the good qualities outweigh it.”

While Ollison viewed hookah as a necessity at times, costumers at Hail Hookah shared similar sentiments about the dangers of hookah. Hookah user Reia Lewis believed that the dangers are common knowledge. Moderation is key however, as she states.

“I look at it like moderation, its bad I agree, but so is drinking, it doesn’t alter your mind like liquor, as long as it’s controlled the effects doesn’t concern me.”

Regarding the quick rise in hookah shops, don't expect more shops to open up anytime soon, as the necessities to begin your own hookah shops can become a bit pricey.

Ali Hedma, manager of local hookah store Burn Hookah, explained the prices of beginning your own hookah shop as well as obtaining your license to operate your own hookah shop. Having prices reach upwards to $80,000.00 to begin your own shop along with your license.

Hedma explained the difficulties, stating. "It will take about $65,000.00 to $80,000.00. If you have that then it will certainly take you a minute to begin." Hedma continued "it's around a four to five month process to get everything together, dealing with the city, and having to check in with each of them, the fire department will check on you constantly and it depends on the pace you go at as well."

While they're presented dangers with the arrival of hookah, Hedma clarifies that everything is regulated within the shop, expressing importance in the firm hand of the city government's involvement during the process of beginning a hookah shop.

"The city is involved with the shop during the beginning, all of our hookah's are regulated, everything we use in here has to be regulated for us to use them."

Although there are serious financial and health concerns surrounding hookah it seems that hookah is here to stay in Ann Arbor. For more information on the health risks involving this trend check out the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdcfoundation.org.