| The hookah pipe is a popular method of smoking | | | | new laws. |
| tobacco. Originally from India, the tradition has spread | | | | Canada |
| around the world over several centuries as the world | | | | In Canada and Britain, places where hookah pipes are |
| has become more and more of a global melting pot of | | | | smoked are often referred to as shisha bars. |
| cultures. Although the hookah is present in some form | | | | Canadian shisha bar owners have managed to |
| in most countries around the world, the laws | | | | arrange special permits to allow them to continue their |
| surrounding their use can differ a good deal from | | | | business in the face of smoking legislation, just like in |
| country to country. This article will explain a brief | | | | the US. As with smoking cigarettes, there is a legal |
| breakdown of the major differences between hookah | | | | age that applies to smoking shisha. In Canada the legal |
| laws in different parts of the world. | | | | age for smoking varies between 18 and 19, depending |
| US | | | | on the state. |
| In the United States, hookah lounges and bars were | | | | United Kingdom |
| affected negatively by the introduction of laws banning | | | | There have been new anti-smoking laws introduced in |
| smoking in public places and tobacco bans. Some | | | | the UK in recent years, similar to the new laws in the |
| hookah users and bars get around this by smoking an | | | | States. Mostly they focus on banning smoking in indoor |
| alternative tobacco substitute made from herbs. It is | | | | or closed-off areas. There are fines involved for |
| also possible for the proprietor of a hookah lounge to | | | | individuals who violate the laws, but the proprietors |
| apply for a special permit that allows people to smoke | | | | themselves face much heavier fines than the individual |
| on their premises. But generally speaking, there are not | | | | actually caught smoking. |
| so many places now where you can find a hookah | | | | Of course, despite these limits, it is still legal to smoke a |
| unless the bar is not specifically dedicated to hookah | | | | shisha pipe in the privacy of your own home in all |
| smoking. It is difficult for a bar owner to obtain a | | | | these countries – provided you are in an area that |
| special permit if they have customers who are not | | | | doesn't have a full tobacco ban. The laws are |
| there to smoke. There are also many people | | | | designed to reduce the impact of smoking on other |
| campaigning to make sure that the hookah lounges | | | | people who would prefer a smoke-free environment. |
| aren't allowed to simply work their way around the | | | | |