Where there’s smoke…: Hookah Bliss deserves an exemption from state law

After several months of defiant civil disobedience, Adam Bliss, owner of the popular Chapel Hill hookah establishment Hookah Bliss, has decided to comply with North Carolina’s new indoor smoking regulations.

He did so by parting with his Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit, which means that his shop will not be able to sell alcoholic beverages any longer.

The indoor smoking ban, which went into effect Jan. 2, was passed by North Carolina legislators with the intent of protecting citizens from secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars.

Hookah Bliss should be granted an exception from the law.

More upscale cigar bars and country clubs have been granted such exceptions. These establishments follow a similar business model.

Legislators will not want to revisit the bill for fear it will appear they are weakening it. But granting hookah bars an exception will not make the law weaker.

As a result of not being able to serve alcohol, Bliss will lose 25 percent of his monthly profit, he says.

Therefore, the state is needlessly harming a respectable business, whose customers come there with the primary intent to smoke.

This makes no sense.

Bliss has also incurred thousands of dollars in fines from his infractions. The Orange County Health Department should refund all of these fines to Bliss.

Hookah Bliss should be able to operate with the same business model as before the smoking legislation went into effect. It is not too late for legislators to fix their mistake.