Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
.A__4
CHAMPION!
April 14-20, 2016 » Page 11A
Clarkston tightens grip on tobacco
Hookah lounges such as Kabu Lounge, located along East Ponce
de Leon Avenue in Clarkston, face stricter policies following a
resolution passed by Clarkston City Council. Photo R. Scott Belzer
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Clarkston took the first
step toward stricter tobacco
ordinances on April 5 during
a regularly scheduled
monthly city council
meeting.
Following unanimous
approval, a resolution made
up by Councilman Awet
Eyasu concerning tobacco
sales and usage will be
forwarded to Clarkston’s
community safety and legal
committee.
The resolution calls
for less second-hand
smoke within city limits
as well as less access
to tobacco products for
youth. The committee will
hear more ideas involving
stricter tobacco ordinances
following the resolution’s
passage.
Mayor Ted Terry said
groups from Clarkston
High School and Freedom
Middle School have
contacted Councilwoman
Beverly Burks, Eyasu and
the mayor to find ways to
prevent underage tobacco
use and access.
“The city council has
now determined that the
city of Clarkston desires
to update its tobacco and
indoor smoking regulations
based on current evidence
and evidence based public
health studies,” reads the
resolution.
Specifically, the
resolution states, “the city
of Clarkston is concerned
about youth access to
tobacco products;” and
“Clarkston has an interest
in exposure to second-hand
smoke for its residents and
workers.” A proposal will
be given to the city council
within 90 days.
Burks said an issue
raised by concerned
students included items not
recognizable because they
are from overseas.
“It would help for us to
make sure we identify those
products so stores and
other places that sell them
know them as a form of
tobacco,” Burks said.
Terry said the resolution
may help clarify licensure
issues surrounding the sale
of tobacco in Clarkston,
specifically when dealing
with alternative means of
use.
Another issue Terry
presented in support of the
resolution was the influx of
hookah lounges within city
limits. A hookah is a “water
pipe that is used to smoke
specially made tobacco
that comes in different
flavors, such as apple, mint,
cherry, chocolate, coconut,
licorice, cappuccino, and
watermelon,” according to
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Smoking hookah is
primarily done indoors
and several metro Atlanta
restaurants specialize in
offering various flavors to
customers.
Councilman Ahmed
Hassan said young people
throughout Clarkston and
surrounding areas have
taken to the hookah method
over traditional forms of
tobacco use.
“What they’re smoking,
FLAT SHOALS
INTERNAL MEDICINE
4153-B FLAT SHOALS PWY
SUITE 200
DECATUR, GA 30034
404.596.4804
FLATSHOALSINTERNALMEDICINE.COM
285
FLAT SHOALS PWY
Where doctor meets neighbor
DeKalb Medical Physicians Group
Flat Shoals Internal Medicine
www.dmpg.org
404.501.MYDR
nobody knows,” Hassan
said. “It comes from all over
the world; it has different
scents; it has different
flavors. A large number of
people in the United States
have quit cigarettes, but
this is the new breed. We
need to study it because it’s
popping up everywhere.”
Clarkston’s concern with
hookah prevalence is not
unfounded, according to
health experts.
“Although many users
think it’s less harmful,
hookah smoking has many
of the same health risks as
cigarette smoking,” the CDC
states on its website.
The CDC also cites
a 2010 Monitoring the
Future survey in which
approximately one of five
high school senior boys
(17 percent) and one of
six high school senior girls
(15 percent) had used
hookah in the past year.
Similar studies surveying
college students saw these
numbers range from 22 to
40 percent.
Council members said
it would be important to
educate business owners
within city limits about the
various forms of tobacco as
ordinances are amended
and changed.
\ 4:^'Annual
ff? TOUR of
i I • KITCHENS
JUNIOR LEAGUE of DEKALB COUNTY
Join the Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc. for
the 4th Annual Tour of Kitchens. Tour of Kitchens
showcases some of the area’s best residential
kitchens with eye-catching yet functional designs
on a self-guided tour.
This year’s tour will feature newly renovated
kitchens by Splice Design,CSI Kitchen and Bath
Studios, Home Rebuilders as well as JLD’s historic
headquarters, the Mary Gay House, with a patio
remodel by Steve Brewer Landscaping.
There will also be chef demonstrations scheduled
throughout the event at each of the kitchens
by local chefs from:
Farm Burger, Parker’s on Ponce, Revival, M572,
Growler Time, The Marlay House, Strippaggio
Bamboo Juices
If you are looking for inspiration for your
kitchen renovation, need new ideas for
cooking meals at home or just want a fun
day out, don’t miss this wonderful event!
General Admission $15
VIP Admission $25
For more information on this year’s
Tour of Kitchens
and to purchase tickets,
visit www.jldekalb.org.
TO FIND A PHYSICIAN IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD