Shisha is moist and sticky tobacco that has been soaked in honey or molasses. There are various types of shisha flavours which include coconut, plum, and apple. A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke tobacco through cooled water. A bowl at the top of the hookah is where the tobacco is heated and the smoke is filtered through the water at the base of the hookah. The tradition of hookah originated in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, India, and Turkey. This tradition has now been globalized and socially accepted as a form of entertainment.

There has been criticism on the city infringing on cultural traditions by enforcing this law, but many are unaware that the negative consequences associated with smoking shisha can be even more harmful than smoking cigarettes. Shisha is no longer confined to one specific ethnic group, but has become a popularized and widespread practice among young adults. Smoking any substance using a hookah poses health risks such as heart and lung diseases, along with other respiratory problems for second-hand smokers.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) prohibits tobacco smoking in public spaces. However, Ontario’s smoke-free laws have been undermined since there are no regulations prohibiting smoking shisha indoors. As of April 2016, the prohibition against smoking shisha (flavoured tobacco)  in public places will come into effect. Only non-tobacco products will be allowed in restaurants, lounges, bars, and patios.

Additionally, the Ontario Ministry of Health does not have plans to regulate herbal (tobacco-free) shisha. Herbal shisha is still considered very harmful despite not containing tobacco. It still contains many carcinogens such as tar and arsenic, and hookah smoke is still dangerous to the body. In addition, the water in a shisha pipe does not filter any harmful chemicals or particles from the smoke. Furthermore, shisha packages are often poorly labelled, making it difficult to tell what the product contains. Some packages may contain tobacco without the user knowing it. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, allowing herbal shisha in public places reinforces the misconception among young adults that it is not harmful.

Let's go forward and regulate smoking herbal shisha. Let's take action against the misleading advertisement techniques of big corporations,  by enforcing standards on labelling shisha products to indicate contents such as tobacco, and other harmful carcinogens. Take a stand to ensure young adults are aware of  the negative health consequences of smoking shisha, so that they can take control of and improve their health.

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For more information, visit:

Smoke-Free Ontario Act

Shisha and Hookah