In Edmonton, end to hookah smoking in enclosed spaces

Long considered almost harmless, hookah is now recognized for its true dangers. Its appeal to young people is even more concerning. Edmonton recently banned its use in enclosed public spaces..

Following the town of Amherstburg, Edmonton, Canada, has now banned hookah smoking in enclosed public spaces. The goal is none other than to increase the number of indoor, smoke-free public spaces, not only to protect health but also to denormalize the use of tobacco products, particularly new ones.

The hookah ban, a health emergency

Since July 1, 2020, Edmonton has banned all shisha smoking in enclosed public spaces with the dual objective of reducing consumption and avoiding exposure to smoke.

Indeed, smoking shisha for one hour is equivalent to smoking the equivalent of 100 cigarettes. Furthermore, it would be more dangerous to be exposed to shisha smoke than to cigarette smoke because for the same amount of time, shisha produces approximately 125 times more smoke than cigarettes. Like cigarette smoke, shisha smoke is composed of thousands of substances, some of which are toxic and can cause illness. Thus, a shisha session releases 25 times more tar and 10 times more carbon monoxide than a cigarette.

Furthermore, using hookah in groups—as is common—requires sharing the same water pipe. Aside from the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, and herpes, the current situation also increases the risk of contracting Covid-19.

The city council prioritizes the protection of health at work

According to the City, the goal of the initiative is to ensure everyone has an enclosed space free of smoke that is hazardous to health. Failure to comply with the regulations can result in fines ranging from 500 $ to the loss of their operating license. Individuals, on the other hand, face a fine of 250 $.

To go further, Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) is calling on the Alberta government to think bigger and standardize this measure across the province to protect citizens, and especially workers, from exposure to secondhand smoke in their workplaces.