Village Could Expand State Smoking Ban, Outlaw Hookah Lounge

Just a couple weeks after a to come to New Lenox, the Village Board could expand the state's smoking ban to include businesses that primarily sell tobacco products.

Currently, New Lenox's village code adheres to the Smoke Free Illinois Act, which went into effect in 2008 and prohibits smoking in public places and within 15 feet of entrances. Hookah lounges and cigar shops, though are exempt under the state's smoking ban because they qualify as retail tobacco shops.

"It’s not anything against the hookah lounge, it’s against any establishment (that could allow smoking)," Mayor Tim Baldermann said. "We got to thinking after hearing that, that we don’t want to promote any smoking."

The Village Board will discuss the ordinance at its next meeting, which is at 7 p.m. Monday at . The public may comment at the meeting. Baldermann said the board will read the ordinance for the first time on Monday but he also suspects there to be a vote that night.

"My personal opinion is that people have a right to do what they want to do in the privacy of their own homes," Baldermann said. "But it’s been a healthier and more pleasant environment (since the state ban went into effect). We don’t need, as a board, to be condoning or promoting such an unhealthy activity."

Local Impact

The owners of Mr. Shesha's hookah lounge, which planned to open this month at the location where Cafe on Cedar was at 398 N. Cedar Road, could not be immediately contacted. But in a previous interview, Ansari said that hookah is not as unhealthy as cigarettes. 

The ingredients include fruit pulp, tobacco leaves, molasses and glycerin. There are no tars and less than .05 percent of nicotine in hookah tobacco, compared to 6 percent nicotine in cigarettes, he said.

At Tobacco 4 Less in New Lenox, cigarette smoking is allowed indoors, though it would be banned if the ordinance passes. Management was not available to comment on Friday.

Earlier this year, the Illinois General Assembly debated a bill that would give local liquor control commissions other adult-oriented establishments that make no more than 10 percent of their revenues from food sales. It hasn't passed, but Baldermann said that discussion is reason to expand on the ban locally before its relaxed elsewhere.

Lisa Roberts, the head bartender at the Pit Stop, said she's definitely seen business sag because of the smoking ban.

"We definitely lost a lot of our business, and the ones who are here aren't happy about it," she said, estimating that as many as 90 percent of Pit Stop customers smoke.

Your Reaction

When plans were announced for a hookah lounge in New Lenox, the public comments were mixed: Should businesses decide how they operate, or the government? In regard health concerns, do employees and customers at smoke-based businesses understand the risks, whereas the general public at a restaurant can't choose?

We asked our Facebook readers, and here's what they said. Make sure to share your opinion in the comments below.

Should there be a smoking ban?

Amy Ingalls: I am not a smoker and neither do I like to have smoke blowing in my face by others who are smoking around me. But I don't think it is right for the village to decide if people can or cannot smoke. What will they do next? Ban the gas stations and liquor stores from selling cigarettes?

Marianna Contreras Kirk: What is the point of a hookah bar???? Serioulsy? i think they could do so much better than that. How about an Arcade place for kids or maybe a coffee/juice house with local bands can play...

Nicole Pagoria Yaniz: If you don't like a hookah bar, don't go to it. Let's let business in that want to come in. An arcade isn't appetizing to me and I have kids.

Sherri Jones Beller: I fully support the smoking ban. Surely NL could come up with something better for that building.

Do you want a hookah bar in New Lenox?

Mark LaTour: Thanks, but NO THANKS!!!!!! What's next, a whole bunch of Payday Loan Stores!!!!!

Jackie Olson-montes: This is crazy!! New Lenox does not want this!!

Patti Rasmussen- Miller: I agree Jackie!!! This is a respectable community!! How can the village approve this???