Sheesha as harmful as cigarette, say experts

WITH more youngsters and women taking to sheesha (waterpipe) smoking, experts warn the practice is no less harmful than cigarette smoking.

Apart from thousands of homes where sheesha is smoked by women and men alike, over a hundred joints offer sheesha services in Doha, sources said.

Even though the activity is deep-rooted in the local and Middle Eastern culture, the smoke that comes out of sheesha contains numerous toxicants known to cause lung cancer and heart diseases, by delivering the addictive nicotine.

Cigarette smokers typically take 8-12 puffs over about 5-7 minutes and inhale 0.5 to 0.6 litres of smoke. In contrast, waterpipe smoking sessions typically last 20-80 minutes, during which the smoker may take 50-200 puffs which ranges from about 0.15-1 litres each,” said director of stop ­smoking clinic, Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, while citing WHO research.

“A sheesha smoker therefore inhales as much smoke during one session as a cigarette smoker would inhale by consuming two packs or more,” he said.

The law banning public smoking of tobacco or its derivatives in Qatar was implemented in 2002, but maqha (cafes) offering sheeshas do not fall under the category. The municipality simply has to ensure that these cafes are fully ventilated and used coal appropriately disposed.

“It is not the increasing activity of sheesha smoking that is a warning sign, it’s the widespread notion held by many users, that the practice is relatively safe, is what makes it even more difficult to convince the young minds,” said Dr al-Mulla, who actively campaigned against public smoking before his Ministry of Health was assimilated in the newly-formed National Health Authority (NHA).

A visit to any cafe reveals groups of friends huddled around their sheeshas, that have been sweetened and chemically flavoured, billowing smoke that has been entrapped within the rooms, where the men play cards/board games or watch a football match on large-screen TVs.

“Call me naive, but I don’t know of a week, when I haven’t come to this place with a couple of my friends and smoked sheesha for hours. It’s the atmosphere, a chance to lounge on Arabic-styled sofas while drinking Turkish coffee and smoking the pipe, that I can’t resist. I am truly re-living the Arabian Nights,” said Mureno, a 22-year old student, whose favourite tobacco flavour is the ‘double apple’.

Ordering one sheesha at the regular cafes could be anything between QR 8-15, while the ones offered by posh clubs and hotels could go up to QR 55 and even more.

Tobaccos in assorted flavours, such as apple, mint, chocolate, grape, are supplied by importers. The ones in demand come from the UAE and Egypt. A rare kind of tobacco is also imported from Saudi Arabia.

“Business has been picking up. We have more and more private customers, both Middle Eastern and Europeans coming into our shop to buy sheesha, with the tobacco and accessories,” said Wael Jouni who has a shop on the Abdullah Thani Street.

“Our sales to the local maqhahs have also increased since I believe there is more demand now than ever,” he said.

But even though the demand has surged in recent times, according to Dr al-Mullah, the authorities are not issuing any more licences for new maqha cafes. “I understand it’s become part of the popular culture here, but a wrong trend seeping in, has to be stopped and effectively tackled before it becomes an epidemic,” he said.