Hookah Bars To Be Banned Soon

November 16, 2005 By Mary Beth Walker

SEATTLE - A Middle Eastern tradition that's been growing more popular in Seattle about to be snuffed out as a result of the Initiative 901 smoking ban.

Hookah pipes have long been used to smoke a sticky mixture of fruit flavored tobacco.

B&O Espresso on Capitol Hill rents them to customers for $10 a pop.

"We started the hookah a year ago because as we travel to the Middle East we started bringing it back and then last summer we brought back more," owner Jane Lukatah explains.

"It's not real popular, it's just getting known and growing," she adds.

The hookah is a water pipe that looks a lot like a bong, but it is not used for drugs. Lukatah says only a fraction of her business comes from people renting them.

"I like the image of it," she says, "and I like the whole set up of it. It's attractive."

But Lukatah does not like it when her café fills up with the smoke from the hookah or cigarettes. For that reason, she is happy with the smoking ban.

"I'm glad that I didn't have to initiate the change and upset my customers," she says. "People who don't smoke have complained when the smoke filters down, they don't like it."

The smoking ban will end the hookah business at Lukatah's café and at Zaina Food, Drinks & Friends once it takes effect in December.