Hookah bar owners hope for exemption

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on June 1, 2009 - 8:00am.
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Hookah bar owners are worried their businesses could go up in smoke.

In the coming weeks, owners hope to persuade state lawmakers to make exemptions for them similar to those granted to cigar bars and country clubs that will allow smoking after a ban takes effect Jan. 1.

The disparity between cigar and hookah bars "just boggles the mind" said owner Adam Bliss.

"Look at who goes to those places -- generally older, affluent white males," he said. "Besides the fact that this law is creating an elitist association between who can smoke and who can't, they're allowing government to put me out of business, and this is supposed to be a free market economy here," he said.

Unlike bars and restaurants, which still attract customers for drinks and food, hookah bars could lose the reason for their existence. (N&O)

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Re: Hookah bar owners hope for exemption

Submitted by nc4me on June 1, 2009 - 9:41am.

Less Freedom = Less Capitalism = Less Individualism.

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Which Party creates an elitest party?

Submitted by CitizenOpinionated on June 1, 2009 - 8:15am.

So according to Mr. Bliss - when discussing the disparity between cigar and hookah bars and their classification through the new "smoking law."

"Look at who goes to those places -- generally older, affluent white males," he said. "Besides the fact that this law is creating an elitist association between who can smoke and who can't, they're allowing government to put me out of business, and this is supposed to be a free market economy here."

So, the Democrats, since they control both Chambers of the General Assembly, have created a law to create an elitist association between who can and can't smoke and where they can smoke.

Yes Mr. Bliss - this is supposed to be a free market economy, but NOT anymore...Welcome to the socialist agenda - the government tells you, the citizen, the private business owner, exactly what you can and cannot do...

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