What goes on there

BOISE - For the past decade hookah bars were only found in large cities, but now they are popping up across the Treasure Valley. The bars have been around for hundreds of years, and play a large role in the Middle Eastern culture

Smoking hookah is considered the new tobacco trend of the 21st century -  especially by young adults.

During daylight hours it's a non-descript building with a simple sign.

But by night time, it starts to fill with people.  Inside it looks like a typical bar, but if you look closer, there is no alcohol, just smoke coming from Middle Eastern pipes, known as a hookah.

Zaid Alsaadoon was the first to open a hookah bar in Boise-- bringing them from his native country of Iraq.  Since then, more than a dozen have popped up around the Treasure Valley.

"We meet there, sit, drink hot tea like coffee, play some games and we smoke hookah," Alaasoon said.

It costs an average of ten dollars to use and can be shared by several people.  Vendors claim its one of the purest forms of tobacco, with no tar and minimal nicotine.

Both hookah bar owners we spoke with smoke the traditional tobacco - and say they've never smoked a cigarette.

The bars have hundreds of available hookah flavors.

"We have a lot of flavors, we have honey, we have banana, strawberry, kiwi grape, a lot of stuff and a lot of flavors," Alsaadoon said.

It's those flavors that are attracting those too young to be around alcohol, but old enough to smoke.

When Alsaadoon opened the first hookah bar -- he said attendance was small, but quickly grew with a line stretching out the door.

That popularity has parents worried. 

Alsaadoon says they know the law and claim they card every potential smoker. 

Mark Kayyali, owner of the Desert Cafe, showed us two cameras he has to around his business, but wouldn't tell us where the other hidden cameras were.

Boise Police are monitoring the hookah trend to an extent - officers have talked to the owners.

There are signs posted at each establishment saying only 18 and older, but according to state law, that only means to smoke. 

In Idaho, anyone can enter a smoke shop, at any age. 

"Officers are concerned about that, but they look at state law, and say you can't stop someone under 18 from being in there and that's a concern for officers," Boise Police spokesperson Lynn Hightower said.

Citations have been given to teens caught smoking near the shops, and if those who are underage are caught smoking inside, the business can be slapped with a misdemeanor, and forced to pay a fine up to $1,000.

"Right now if parents are concerned - it's a state issue, so contact your state legislator and let them know your concerns," Hightower said.

Kayyali said underage kids are not allowed in his establishment.

“No they come, they try to come in, (we) card people – ‘oops they have to leave,’” he said.

Both owners admit there are minors who try to sneak in, but they claim they work hard to follow Idaho's law.

"We check for IDs we try to work so hard for it, we try so hard," Alsaadoon said.

Hookah bar owners say smoking hookah is safer than cigarettes.

But the American Lung Association says a person smoking hookah inhales more than a person smoking a cigarette.

They says a teen is eight times more likely to experiment with cigarettes if they've used hookah.