This is definitely not the kind of news the Syndicate of owners of restaurants in Lebanon would like to read about!
While these people are calling the Lebanese government to amend the anti-smoking law to allow special permits for indoor smoking following what “modern” countries do, check what happened to a Lebanese restaurant in “modern” London for allowing shisha at its premises.
MANAGERS of a Lebanese restaurant who persistently allowed customers to smoke shisha have been evicted from the premises.
In spite of warnings from the police and environmental health officers, Mezaziq, in Brackenbury Road, Hammersmith, let its customers flout the smoking ban and use shisha pipes in the basements.
Following pressure from the council and the police, the landlords evicted their tenants and the restaurant closed.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council leader for transport and technical services, Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, said: “Mezaziq has been evicted by the owner of the building following considerable pressure from the council.
Road Hug
“This illegal shisha café has consistently flouted the law by allowing shisha to be smoked inside the premises and residents have also complained about noise and antisocial behaviour.
“The council recently served an enforcement notice requiring the shisha club use to cease and we are delighted that the building’s owner has thrown out the people who ran the café.”
Earlier this year the restaurant and social club was rapped over the knuckles after the authorities discovered customers following the traditional Middle Eastern smoking custom.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council had also rejected its application for a late licence amid police and community concerns that it would become a shisha cafe.
Police believed that the absence of an application for an alcohol licence indicated the management wanted to set up shisha smoking facilities. Source
Thanks to Mustapha
