Fears for health as new Sisha lounge opens in Walsall
Concerns have been raised about the possible health risks of Shisha smoking in Walsall following the arrival of a new bar.
Equator opened its doors on Lichfield Street at the end of May.
Club bosses spent £250,000 sprucing up the old Chicago Rock Cafe venue which had sat empty for three years with the nightspot aimed at a more ‘sophisticated’ crowd.
But it is the inclusion of an outdoor heated Shisha lounge which has prompted health fears about people taking up the traditional Middle Eastern activity.
A spokeswoman for public health at Walsall Council stated: “There is a common misconception that Shisha is a safer option than tobacco.
“Let’s be clear here, Shisha isn’t safer. Smoking Shisha – the smoking of a mix of ingredients generally including tobacco through a bowl and hose or tube – is just as dangerous as cigarette smoking.
“Whilst you don’t need a licence to sell or use Shisha on your premises, it is generally a product that contains tobacco and therefore use on business premises must comply with the smoke free requirements of the Health Act.
“Smoking is still the single greatest cause of illness and premature death in England. If you give up smoking you will see very quickly benefits.
“The most successful way to stop is with the help of Walsall’s Stop Smoking Services.”
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, who represents the town centre St. Matthews ward, added: “My concern is that it is detrimental to people’s health. It can’t be good for your breathing inhaling all of that smoke.
“I am concerned young adults will be coming in to this facility and doing this, rather than proactive things such as exercise.
“Like vaping we don’t know enough about the risks at this stage although I think it is probably detrimental. I think there should be proper regulations around it.”
The British Heart Foundation warns in a typical hour-long session of Shisha smoking, people could inhale more than 100 cigarettes’ worth of smoke.
The charity adds: “Traditionally Shisha tobacco contains cigarette tobacco, so like cigarettes it contains nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead.
"As a result, Shisha smokers are at risk of the same kinds of diseases as cigarette smokers, such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease and problems during pregnancy.
“It’s difficult to say exactly how much smoke or toxic substances you’re exposed to in a typical Shisha session.
“People smoke Shisha for much longer periods of time than they smoke a cigarette, and in one puff of shisha you inhale the same amount of smoke as you’d get from a smoking a whole cigarette.”
No-one from Equator was available for comment.
