An Acton shisha lounge and its director have been prosecuted and fined thousands of pounds for repeatedly breaking smoke-free laws.
Aldiyar Ltd, trading as Al Diyar, in High Street, Acton, and its director, Hussein Abdalkazim Hussein, registered at the same address, pleaded guilty to the offences at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 3 March.
They had failed to prevent a person from smoking in a smoke-free location, and failed to display at least one ‘no smoking’ sign.
Al Diyar was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay a £1,000 victim surcharge.
Hussein was fined £3,000, ordered to pay £2,223.70 costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge. As a result, he now has a criminal record.
Ignored warnings
Ealing Council officers visited the shisha lounge in July 2024 and customers were seen smoking shisha in an enclosed space – which is illegal. The business failed to act on advice and warnings given to them, and the problem was still evident during a second visit in December 2024.
Smoking shisha can seriously damage your health. Shisha tobacco carries the same health risks as other products containing tobacco, like cigarettes. The shisha smoke contains harmful chemicals which not only affect the person smoking the pipe, but also others in the room who are breathing in the secondary smoke and fumes.
‘Taking the strongest possible action’
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Protecting public health and safety is a top priority for the council.
“Every business has a duty to operate responsibly, and when they repeatedly ignore smoking laws, we will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action. Since 2023, 15 businesses in the borough have been taken to court for similar matters and ended up being fined a total of more than £70,000 for breaking the law.”
More information
If you are a shisha business, you can find information and advice about relevant legislation on the council’s website.
If you have concerns about a food business in the borough, email foodsafety@ealing.gov.uk
Visit the NHS website for advice on quitting smoking.
