Jump to full article: Maryland Daily Record, 2009-06-25
Author: ETHAN ROTHSTEIN Daily Record Business Writer
Intro: Two hookah bars, El Basha on East Baltimore Street and the iLounge on North Charles Street, have opened this year in Baltimore, and two more have opened in Towson over the last few years.
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The secret to the growing success of hookah is the timeless demographic for trendy nightlife -- college students.
"They think it's cool," said Mohammed Jadoo, co-owner of Arabian Nights. "A lot of people these days are finding out about it, and they've started liking it." . . .
However, there are always risks associated with smoking, even if it's tobacco-free.
"Any time that you're inhaling smoke into your lungs, there's an inherent risk there," said Michelle Bernth of the American Lung Association. "It's not right to think that just because you're smoking something natural, it's OK. Any time that you're inhaling smoke directly into the soft tissue of your lungs, you're putting yourself at risk."
Despite the risks, hookah is growing in popularity among college students.
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