Updated: Lebanese Restaurant Seeks Smoking "Permit"

Fairhope, Alabama

Update: City clerk Hanks tells the Times she never spoke to  the applicant; someone in the front office did.




The owner of 'Sage' Lebanese Cuisine Middle Eastern Restaurant (clk) asked the city council for a "permit" to allow the smoking of hookahs outside of his establishment at 319 Fairhope Ave. downtown: He said it is a Lebanese custom that some of his customers are requesting.

The council told him to check with the city clerk to see if it was allowed by the city smoking ordinance 1311 banning tobacco smoking in public and workplaces.

He said he had already checked with the clerk and she referred him to the council.

Ordinance 1311 bans tobacco smoking inside and within ten feet of most businesses outside; in order to grant an exception the ordinance would probably have to be amended.

(The others teased councilman Burrell when he claimed not to know what a hookah was.)


Hookah definition:
  • Hookahs are water pipes that are used to smoke specially made tobacco that comes in different flavors, such as apple, mint, cherry, chocolate, coconut, licorice, cappuccino, and watermelon.1,2
  • Although many users think it is less harmful, hookah smoking has many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking.1,2
  • Hookah is also called narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble, and goza.1,2
  • Hookahs vary in size, shape, and style.2
  • A typical modern hookah has a head (with holes in the bottom), a metal body, a water bowl, and a flexible hose with a mouthpiece.3,4
  • Hookah smoking is typically done in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person.1,2,3,4
Hookah Pipe





Comments

Anonymous said…
The childish teasing of Mr Burrell just show the lack of mentality the majority of the city counsel has or hasn't. No one know every thing. With the exception of possibly Emperor Kant,with his own internal ways.
Yet a good compromise would be a side or back area designated as a smoking section.
Anonymous said…
It's smoking and no exceptions should be made. Otherwise, there would not be a good reason to prevent other businesses from allowing smoking at their establishment. I don't believe Fairhope citizens or the people who visit Fairhope wish to walk down streets that smell like tobacco smoke.
Anonymous said…
I have been wanting to try this restaurant and was really happy to see some diverse cuisine come to town.
I won't be going there now knowing they approve of smoking.
Anonymous said…
No means No , Why should this restaurant think they should be an exception!!!! They knew Fairhope was non smoking so deal with it or move on!!!!!
Anonymous said…
Burel smokes those nasty cee-gars ... .
I'm not a smoking lover and don't think it would be a good idea to allow this in front of the restaurant but if people would like to smoke on the side or behind the restaurant that should be allowed. Are we not calling the USA the country with the most freedom of the Western world! Of course we are not but that is another story.
Anonymous said…
It seems like a reasonable requeast if the businesses next door do not mine it.
Anonymous said…
We used to use those to smoke pot back in the day at Auburn.
Anonymous said…
I do not doubt that about auburn based on some of the people that I have met that say that they attended there
Anonymous said…
I can't believe this is even an issue . Fairhope is non smoking and it is the restaurant owners fault not Fairhope for putting the restaurant there . He knew it is non smoking and if it is your custom well guess what we have rules and they existed before your resturant
Anonymous said…
Guns are allowed, also open carry but smoking outside a restaurant would be forbidden? That would be hypocritical.
Anonymous said…
I dont see any problem with that. We have many bars in town and people smoke outside in the sidewalk and we have the cigar place too
Anonymous said…
Permit is for outdoor private area. I cannot beleive we are even discussing this issue. Everybody smokes cigarettes publicly!!!
Anonymous said…
The area they want to use is the Public sidewalk in front.
Anonymous said…
The cigar place existed before the non smoking law. It is not a bar restaurant. No everyone does not smoke publically! Your restaurant just came to town (law was in place) and the outdoor area is a very small area in which would cause a lot of undesirable and offensive not to mention harmful smell.
Anonymous said…
The law is the law. NO SMOKING! and I'm a smoker.