De Blasio, Gentile sign hookah regulation bill
New Law Protects Those Under 21 From Dangers of Hookah Smoke
Mayor Bill De Blasio and City Councilmember Vincent Gentile signed the first-ever regulation on hookah smoking in NYC into law on Tuesday by adding non-tobacco hookah to the Smoke Free Air Act. This makes New York City the first city to have a law governing the cleanliness of hookah paraphernalia.
Like cigarette smoking being prohibited indoors under the current law, hookah smoke will now be added to that rule. Non-tobacco shisha has been scientifically shown to be just as dangerous as smoking 100 cigarettes in one session due to the carcinogens produced and the length of time people use hookah pipes versus smoking one cigarette, according to a statement released by Gentile.
Data has clearly shown even smoking non-tobacco shisha is a health risk that poses a danger to those who smoke but also to those that live around or work in hookah bars, the statement said.