Push to reduce the amount of second-hand shisha

An Adelaide City councillor wants to reduce the amount of second-hand shisha smoke on Hindley St.

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Hindley St visitors must be protected from the damaging health affects of inhaling second-hand shisha smoke, an Adelaide City councillor says.

Cr Frank Knoll will at a meeting tonight ask that the council work with SA Health to improve public health along the popular entertainment strip.

In particular, he wants patrons shielded from second-hand smoke from shisha smoking sessions, which are offered at more than six venues along the road.

“We need to work with the Health Department because they have seen it as an issue so we need to see how we can … look after people who don’t want to be exposed (to the smoke),” Cr Knoll said.

“Sitting next to a person smoking shisha, you could be potentially be smoking anything up to a packet of cigarettes in an hour.”

He suggested enclosing courtyard areas but was adamant he did not want it to have a detrimental effect on local businesses.

Cr Knoll’s push comes as Cancer Council SA and Encounter Youth have raised concerns about the high consumption of shisha along the street.

According to quit.org.au, smoking shisha — a Middle Eastern tobacco smoked through a hookah or water pipe — has health risks similar to smoking cigarettes.

A one-hour water pipe session generates as much carbon monoxide as 20 cigarettes, with the burning charcoal used to heat the pipe harmful to passers-by, it said.

Encounter Youth education manager Andrew Scholefield supported reducing second-hand smoke, particularly closing off areas to reduce the impact on walkers.

“Our perspective is we would like to see the design of the venues actually provide protection for public health,” Dr Scholefield said.

Cancer Council SA Services research and public policy general manager Alana Sparrow said too many people were unaware of the health risks of smoking shisha which was “extremely concerning”.

SA Health director of health protection Chris Lease said inhaling shisha for an hour was the equivalent of smoking more than 100 cigarettes and that reducing tobacco-related harm in the community was paramount.

“There is no safe level of passive smoking and only a 100 per cent smoke-free environment can protect someone from the harmful effects of smoking,” Dr Lease said.

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Under current laws, shisha cannot be smoked inside or near where food is served.

Lava Sheesha And Kebab House manager Abdul Haidri said enclosing outdoor areas could work but he would rather have a dedicated indoor room for shisha that was away from food.

He said all businesses would need to do this was a good fan and exhaust.

Cr Knoll will also ask the council to work with local traders — particularly shisha lounge operators — to enforce outdoor dining permit conditions.