Hookah lounges popular among students
Smoking tobacco out of a hookah is becoming an increasingly popular activity for college students across America.
A hookah is a single or multi-stemmed water pipe used for smoking tobacco. Hookahs originated in the Middle East, nearly 3,500 years ago, and have recently grown in popularity in other countries including the U.S.A, the U.K., and elsewhere.
As a result of the hookah growing in popularity, hookah lounges have been established all over the country, most of which are near college towns and in urban areas.
According to an article by Lindsay Lyon titled “the Hazard of Hookah Smoke”, from the year 2000 to 2004, over 200 new hookah cafes have opened for business. They usually target the young-adult crowd; as the cafes are usually like the typical coffee shops that offer couches, dim lighting, coffee, and musical acts. It is also usually a very cultural atmosphere. The hookahs and tobacco appeal to a younger crowd largely because the flavors of tobacco that are offered are fruity, unusual flavors. Some popular flavors include the typical fruity flavors like apple and grape, but also other curious concoctions such as Rose, Mint Chocolate Chill, French Vanilla, Blueberry Muffin, and Tutti Fruitti.
The nearest hookah lounges can be found in State College. Grass Hopper Gifts, and Jamaica Junction are the two most popular lounges. Chronic Town was another very popular hookah lounge at PSU but recently closed down to due a flood in the building.
All lounges are usually filled with students hanging out on the sofas, doing homework, socializing, listening to music and of course enjoying a nicely prepared hookah by the café workers.
“I go to Jamaica Junction whenever I’m in State College,” said Kristin Shade, a LHU sophomore. “I really enjoy it. The workers are nice and it’s just a great place to chill before you go off and do something else, like see a movie. It would be really cool if Lock Haven had one.”
Hookahs themselves can be purchased right in the town of Lock Haven at Ashworx, a popular emporium for students and non-students alike.
Before Caffeine Nation closed down, the previous owners considered offering hookahs to smoke but decided against it because of the process needed to attain a permit to allow smoking inside of a public facility. Also deterring the consideration was the small size of the coffee shop. Offering hookahs would more than likely draw a big crowd, especially on weekends and for under age students who can’t go to bars, but of course, are at least 18. If a hookah lounge opened in Lock Haven it would need to be able to hold a decent amount of people.
“I have my own hookah that I got from Ashworx,” said sophomore, Matt Miller. “It’s cool to have. I usually just invite a few friends over, turn on some tunes, and make a nice hookah. It’s something to do, and a great way to just hang out and talk. It’s really relaxing.”
Smoking hookah should be enjoyed occasionally, for there are health risks if it is done too often. Many young people have the misconception that it is healthier than smoking cigarettes because it is water-based. They believe that the water filters all the “bad stuff” out, but according to many professional sources, these myths are severely wrong.
According to mayoclinic.com, a health guidance website, Edward C. Rosenow III, M.D. states that “It’s a myth that hookah smoking is safer than smoking cigarettes. The tobacco is no less toxic. Hookah smokers actually inhale more tobacco smoke than do cigarette smokers because of the massive volume of smoke they inhale.”
The World Health Organization also put out an advisory stating that in a typical one-hour session of hookah smoking, the smoker is exposed from 100 to 200 times the volume of smoked inhaled in a single cigarette.
Because the smoker inhales much more smoke in a single sitting than a cigarette, it also means that the hookah smoker is consuming higher levels of nicotine and carbon monoxide.
Despite these dangers and advisories, college students still continue to smoke out of hookahs whether it’s at home or at a hookah lounge.
“As a casual hookah smoker I can happily tell anyone that it’s quite fun,” said Jared Day, a LHU sophomore. “It has the allure the cigarettes do with the nicotine buzz along with the social aspects of exchanging conversation in a group of new or old friends. I guess you can take from the dangers what you will, but my personal opinion is who cares? Smoking hookah has existed in Asia for thousands of years. It’s like anything else in this country we live in; it’s not really bad for you unless it’s done in excess. So I say light the coals and hit the hoses but all in good moderation.”
Lyndsey Hewitt, October 15, 2009 lhueagleye
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