On May 1, 2010, with the introduction of the “Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Law,” Michigan became the 38th state to implement a public smoking ban. 

“It’s nice going into a restaurant or bar and not coming out smelling like smoke. It makes me sick to my stomach,” junior Chelsea McCulley said. 

Some Oakland students who also hold jobs at local bars have emotions favoring the law since it went into effect, regardless of the downturn of business. 

 “It’s a lot easier to work now,” said student Kimberly Zuteck, who works at a local establishment, “Once I started working in a smoking environment it affected my health. … I mean business has been a little bit slower but it’s healthier and cleaner, and that makes up for it.” 

Although opinion on whether the new law is justified has been subject to debate, the issue just became more complicated.  

With the new law, smoking in all public places including bars and restaurants is prohibited throughout the state, except for casinos and cigar bars. 

Businesses aren’t allowed to serve food and drink and have tobacco products at the same time.

According to ArabDetroit.com, which serves as a resource for information on Arabic culture in the area, there are approximately 300,000 Arabic people living in the Detroit area.

 A large part of Arabic culture is to enjoy the smoking of tobacco in large glass pipes called hookahs.

 “Every culture has their own customs,” said Sam Ahmad of Dearborn’s 360 Lounge and Grill.  “The tradition originated years ago. Having a meal with friends and smoking hookah afterwards is an important aspect of our culture.”

These small businesses face new problems due to the new law and are forced to decide which part of their heritage to practice and respect. Unfortunately, only serving traditional Arabic food and drink or selling hookah is not as profitable.

“It’s like telling an Italian not to have wine with their dinner,” says Ahmad. 

 Many hookah bar owners believe that the line in the Dr. Ron Davis Law that separates casinos from small businesses like their hookah bars is blurred.  

“I don’t understand why casinos are allowed to operate with people smoking cigarettes and coming into contact with more secondhand smoke than us,” Ahmad said. 

 Residents who are against the new law may argue that people know what they should expect when they enter an establishment like a hookah bar. 

“Our business was opened to share a part of culture with the surrounding community. 99.9 percent of people who come in are well aware they are going into a smoke environment,” Ahmad said. 

“I think if it is part of your culture, there should be special considerations made. It is unfair to discriminate against a culture’s practices,” junior Abe Kassa said. 

Not all states with smoking bans have the same rules regarding hookah bars.

For example, laws in the state of Washington allow smoking in private clubs like hookah establishments. 

While 360 Lounge and Grill, like many other local hookah bars, is complying with the new law, that hasn’t stopped them from taking action. 

The owner of the 360 Lounge and Grill, Mike Berry, is also president of the National Heritage Association, and they have begun fighting back with legal action to change the law and gain exemption. 

“Do I think we are going to win the war? I don’t know,” Ahmad said, “I believe we should. They tell us that they (lawmakers) aren’t targeting certain people, but they aren’t making it hard to think otherwise.”