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Milford hookah lounge again ordered to close 

MILFORD -- The city Health Department has ordered the Olive Tree Hookah Lounge to close, following an inspection of the premises on opening night Friday by city sanitarians.

Health Director Dennis McBride, saying the practice is like a "cigarette plus," said Saturday he based the order on the health hazards the practice presents. McBride said the owners have a right to appeal to the state, but he intends to enlist every resource possible to not only close the new Milford hookah bar for good, but also to close all others in the state based on the hazard.

He claimed the hookah pipe is unsanitary because it was found during inspection that sections of the hoses used for smoking cannot be adequately cleaned, increasing the potential for the spread of germs that can transmit diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and more.

Inspectors also found the sweet aroma of the place because of spices added to the smoking material misleads people into thinking they're not smoking tobacco, when in fact they are, which contains the addictive agent nicotine. He also said there were no "menus" or listing of products and their contents available to customers.

"They target young people," McBride said.

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