A bill that would ban most new hookah lounges in the state narrowly cleared another legislative hurdle this afternoon.
The planning and development committee endorsed the measure by a vote of 11 to 10. The bill has already received the backing of the legislature's public health committee. It now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
The proposal would permit smoking in hookah lounges that opened before Dec. 31, 2010, but would direct the state Department of Public health to draft regulations governing those lounges. New hookah lounges would be prohibited.
Supporters cited health statistics to bolster their case. They say hookah lounges pose a significant public health risk. They cited research linking hookah smoking to the spread of tuberculosis, to the exposure to toxic chemicals in smoke such as arsenic and lead, and to an increased risk of cigarette smoking among hookah smokers.
But opponents of the ban say hookah smoking is a matter of personal choice. Rep. Kim Rose, a Democrat from Milford and a member of the planning and development committee, compared hookah lounges to cigar bars. "I understand the health concerns but if somebody wants to smoke at a hookah lounge, it's their right,'' she said.
Rose questioned how many TB cases have been linked to hookah smoking; she said she favors regulations, so smokers are aware of the risk but does not support an outright ban.
Hookah smoking are a centuries-old tradition in the Middle East. Patrons gather in lounges to talk, drink tea, and puff on hoses connected to large water pipes whose bowls are filled with flavored tobacco. In recent years, several such businesses have opened in the state while others have been rejected by local authorities.