I could have seen this one coming. Every time I walked past the "Zaina hookah bar" I scratched my head and wondered why I was seeing a hookah bar when smoking is illegal in bars in Washington. Apparently the owners didn't fear the no-smoking law.
Eventually a lawsuit was filed last week after several complaints from the public and warnings had failed to halt the smoking. The lawsuit asks to fine Zaina $100 a day until they comply with the law, which prohibits smoking and requires placement of signs advising customers of the ban.
"If I lose the hookah business, I'm out. I'm broke," says Shaher Abuelkhair, owner of Zaina. "I have kids. I have a mortgage. I have a lease. I can't just stop."
It's too bad, I feel for the guy, but the law is the law. He was pretty much asking for trouble don't you think?
Not just a law, but a law passed at referendum by 1,153,353 Washington voters. It's hard to argue with the legitimacy of that, unless you hate democracy or something.
I hate smoking. I think it is a terrible habit. I hate being around smoke. I also hate that we are removing options for people who choose to be in that atmosphere. I understand banning smoking from restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges, where there are other purposes for hanging out. But places like cigar bars and hookah lounges sole purpose are to be smoking facilities. I don't think the government should interfere with a place like that.