THE owners of a shisha café in Belfast have been fined for breaching smoking regulations.
Belfast City Council officers spotted people “smoking shisha within the enclosed premises” of Lova Coffee on the Lisburn Road on four occasions, breaching smoke-free legislation under The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
“Shisha is a form of flavoured tobacco heated by charcoal and smoked through a water pipe,” a spokesperson for Belfast City Council said.
“It is covered by smoking legislation and is allowed in areas which are open air, or in which at least 50 per cent of the building or structure is permanently open," they added.
The owners of the business, which is registered as Mayar Coffee Limited, were fined £1100 plus costs of £128 at Belfast Magistrates Court this week after pleading guilty to failing to prevent people smoking shisha within their premises
“Under The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, it is against the law to smoke in enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and in public places such as bars and offices, as well as work vehicles and public transport,” the Council spokesperson said.
“This legislation was introduced to protect workers and the public from exposure to second-hand smoke,” they added.
“It is enforced across the city by our Tobacco Control Officers, who seek to support businesses to operate good practice and to comply with the law.
“However, we will take action against illegal practice which puts people at risk.”
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