FDA to close down illegal Shisha smoking joints

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has threatened to close down drinking joints and pubs that provide Shisha smoking services without permit.

Head of Tobacco and Substance Abuse Department of the FDA, Vivian Boateng giving reasons for the decision of the FDA said, “On monitoring events we have noticed that younger folks are really patronizing Shisha. Research has shown that ladies especially have engaged in smoking because they feel it’s safe unlike other tobacco products.”

Shisha pipes use tobacco sweetened with fruit or molasses sugar, which makes the smoke more aromatic than cigarette smoke. Popular flavourings include apple, plum, coconut, mango, mint, strawberry and cola.

According to Vivian, her office has intensified education on the smoking of Shisha.

“We have intensified our education amongst the general populace especially amongst the youth because it’s a global issue now.”

Shisha contains cigarette tobacco, so like cigarettes, it contains nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead.

On the future plans of the Authority, Vivian said, “So we are making plans to count all the tobacco products that have been regulated.”

Wood, coal, or charcoal is burned in the shisha pipe to heat the tobacco and create the smoke because the fruit syrup or sugar makes the tobacco damp.

As a result, Shisha smokers are at risk of the same kinds of diseases as cigarette smokers, such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease and problems during pregnancy.