The owners of two Bolton shisha cafés have been fined for flouting smoking laws.
Both Zakaria Amenjee and Alla Al-Sabie were found guilty of breaching the Health Act 2006 when they appeared at Bolton Magistrates’ Court this week.
The act prohibits smoking in an area which has a roof or ceiling, unless at least half the wall space is open.
The court heard how council enforcement officers discovered smoke upon entering Hookah Pani Shisha Café in St Helens Road.
The owner, Zkaria Amenjee, claimed the café was not open for business despite two males openly smoking shisha pipes using lit charcoal.
Officers also discovered 25 tubs of different flavoured shisha as well as a till in the back kitchen.
A full inspection of the premises revealed it was substantially enclosed.
Amenjee was fined £500 and ordered to pay £600 in court costs along with a £50 victim surcharge.
A further council inspection of Taboosh in Bank Street revealed a dozen customers smoking shisha while a range of hot food and drink was being served in a bar area.
These premises were also found to be substantially enclosed.
Business owner Alla Al-Sabie was fined £750 and must also pay £925 in costs and a £75 surcharge.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Nick Peel, said:
“These convictions send a clear message to business owners that breaches of the law will not be tolerated.
“The 2006 ban was brought in to protect the public from the harmful effects of inhaling smoke in an enclosed space and no business is exempt from these regulations.
“These two owners have been handed a significant financial penalty and I’m sure it will make others think twice before flouting the rules.”