The manager of a Bolton shisha café has been fined £800 for illegally allowing customers to smoke indoors.
On January 16, 2020, in a joint operation with Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, officers from the councils’ trading standards team attended Xhale, The Bunker on Gilnow Lane, Bolton.
Upon entry, they found 22 people sat smoking shisha using lit charcoal in a room with all the shutters down and no ventilation. This is in breach of the Health Act 2006, where a premise must be at least 51% open for persons to smoke a lit substance.
Shortly after the officers arrived, Mohammed Bux, who confirmed himself as the manager, arrived at the premises. Having denied the offence at the time, he later pleaded guilty in court.
During the visit, Officers from Regulatory Services seized 110 shisha pipes, a large box of charcoal and 11 large bags of shisha related items. Fines were issued to those found smoking.
Appearing at Bolton Magistrates Court on Monday November 22, 2021, Mohammad Bux of Beaconsfield Street, Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Health Act 2006 by failing to stop people from smoking inside the premises on Gilnow Lane.
He was fined £800 and ordered to pay £1028 in legal costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Despite investigation, the owner of the business has not been traced.
Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Hilary Fairclough said, “Smoking indoors is illegal, whether it is cigarettes or shisha.
“A business must be at least 51% open when allowing smoking, this does not include windows, doors or any other openings. For example, at least two sides of a marquee must be always fully open.
“Often with lit charcoal in an enclosed area, there can be a build-up of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas that can kill people.
“We will not hesitate in taking action against individuals who run these premises and do not adhere to the law. You are putting lives at risk, and you will be prosecuted.”