Health warning for Mid-East smokers

Mashari Ahmed from Saudi Arabia smokes a shisha on High St yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

The growing popularity of shisha smoking in Auckland - and a perception that it is less harmful than cigarettes - is causing concern at the Ministry of Health.

Shisha smoking originates from the Middle East, where a stemmed instrument is used to smoke flavoured tobacco which is cooled and filtered by passing it through water.

The number of cafes offering shisha in New Zealand has increased in recent years, and such cafes can now be found in Queen St, High St, K Rd and beyond.

"Products such as shisha are gaining popularity often in the mistaken belief that they are less hazardous to health," said Brendon Baker, a ministry senior policy analyst.

Shisha smoking was linked to lung disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Mr Baker, who oversees tobacco policy and implementation, said smoking tobacco in any form was harmful. Overseas studies had found smoking shisha was far worse than smoking cigarettes.

Qatar's Department of Health reported shisha smokers could suffer from high levels of carbon monoxide in their systems.

Singapore health officials found a single shisha session - 15 to 90 minutes - delivered more than 20 cigarettes' worth of nicotine.

But shisha smokers who spoke to the Herald were unaware of any health hazards - and some thought the water in the pipe filtered out toxic ingredients from the tobacco.

Muhyiddin Ahmed, 19, a business student from Saudi Arabia, said he smoked shisha because he thought there was also a lower chance to get addicted.

"Unlike cigarettes, which can be smoked anywhere, people have to go to a cafe to smoke shisha, and I think this makes it harder to get addicted.

"I thought the water takes all the poison out of the tobacco and we are just smoking clean smoke."

Another Saudi Arabian student, Mashari Ahmed, 23, who smokes shisha at least once a fortnight, said it eased homesickness.

"Smoking shisha helps us feel more at home in Auckland, and it is also a good way to hang out with friends."

Jordan Alodeh, owner of Oasis Convenience Store on High St, said he introduced shisha eight months ago to enhance the Middle Eastern atmosphere in his cafe.

He charges $15 a session. Smokers can choose from hundreds of flavour combinations.

"All smoking is bad, but at least shisha smokers don't get drunk and end up in fights like people who go drinking in the pubs," said Mr Alodeh, originally from Jordan.

The Health Ministry says shisha is subject to the same laws as other tobacco products.