Tobacco sales and shisha lounges

No smoking is permitted within substantially and fully enclosed public spaces or workplaces because of the smoke free laws.  This also applies to Shisha lounges.

If you construct a shelter for Shisha users, it may also require planning permission. 

Tobacco labelling

Anyone selling tobacco products should ensure that these have been legally imported into the UK. The following notice should also be clearly displayed on the premises:

It is illegal to supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.

In relation to Shisha pipes, if the product contains tobacco then these should be labelled with the same written and picture warnings that are on cigarette packs.

Underage sales

No tobacco product can legally be supplied to anyone under 18 years old.  Premises owners should pay particular attention to the age of groups of persons sharing one pipe, to ensure that they are all over 18.  We recommend that premises owners consider restricting entry to over 18s only.

Hygiene

As the pipes and hoses will be used by multiple users premises owners should ensure that the items are cleaned thoroughly and disinfected between uses. We recommend, to minimise infection, that disposable mouthpieces are used.

Stopping smoking

If you wish to stop smoking then we recommend you contact the Barnet Stop Smoking service. 

Read the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health's Supplementary guidance for local authority regulatory officers on dealing with non-compliance in Shisha bars (PDF).