Smoking ban might extinguish hookah bars

Gov. Tim Kaine is expected to sign into law a smoking ban that could put many hookah bars out of business-including establishments near the Monroe Park campus.

The General Assembly has passed a law to prohibit smoking in all public indoor restaurants and bars except those with a separately ventilated smoking section. Unlike other states, Virginia would not exempt hookah bars, which sell flavored tobacco smoked from a water-filled pipe.

Gassum Chater, manager of Sahara, a hookah bar at 813 W. Grace St., was surprised by legislators’ decision to ban smoking in restaurants and bars.

“I think they are selling their heritage,” Chater said. “This is a state that has survived on tobacco. Even if they don’t sell as much, it is still part of their history. They fail to realize that there are a lot of people that are living off of tobacco.”

Since smoking is essential to their business, hookah bar owners will be forced to make renovations if they want to stay in operation.

Kaine, who worked with state legislators on the legislation, still could amend or veto the bill. However, the Democratic governor has called the legislation “a reasonable and necessary public health measure.”

Gordon Hickey, the governor’s press secretary, said Kaine plans to sign the ban as is.

“This is a bill about people’s health. So for that reason, he does not intend to amend the bill,” Hickey said. He said hookah bars “will be able to do the same thing as any other restaurant” if they want to comply with the law.

Kaine has said he pushed for the ban because “the dangers of second-hand smoke are undeniable.”

The General Assembly has considered smoking bans several times. Those previous attempts served as warnings for hookah bars.

“This whole issue has been up in the air for a long time,” Chater said. “Any business like this is very na’ve if they don’t prepare for it.”

Sahara, which contains both a table-filled lobby and a larger lounge, might be able to make the necessary changes to accommodate the demands of the bill, Chater said. But smaller hookah bars in Richmond and other Virginia cities could find the ban more burdensome.

Whatever the case, Chater remains hopeful that hookah bars might be able to sidestep the smoking ban.

“With any law, there is a loophole for a businessman,” Chater said. “We’ll find one.”