Hookah Bars: The new hangout for young adults too young for traditional bars

Hookah (waterpipe or shisha) smoking has become a popular trend in the United States. Numerous hookah bars have burgeoned throughout the country which may provide a risky alternative to the traditional bar scene. More research is needed to determine if hookah smoking varies within different subsets of the population, including age. Data were collected in night time field studies in Gainesville, Florida. Research teams recruited patrons exiting known hookah cafes (n = 180). After providing verbal consent, participants answered a brief questionnaire with demographic information, tobacco use patterns, and attitudes and knowledge of tobacco harm. Upon completion of the instrument, participants provided a breath carbon monoxide level which was then recorded on their survey. The majority, 59.8% of the sample, were under the age of 21. Hookah bar patrons' CO readings under the age of 21 (mean = 31.7) did not significantly differ from individuals 21 and over (mean = 29.6). However, individuals under the age of 21 were less likely to agree that smoking hookah would lead to negative health effects compared with those 21 and over. Nearly one-quarter (23.5%) of the under 21 patrons reported smoking hookah for more than 90 minutes in a typical hookah session compared to only 10.4% of the 21 and over patrons. More than three-quarters (76.4%) of the patrons under 21 reported typically smoking hookah in a restaurant/bar/cafe. While the CO levels do not vary by age, patrons (59.8%) of the cafes are under 21 and those less than 21 report less harm.