what is hookah?
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What Is Hookah?
A waterpipe for smoking flavoured shisha tobacco, heated by charcoal with smoke drawn through water. The water does not filter the harm; it is harmful.
You may have seen a hookah at a cafe or party and wondered what it is. In short, a hookah is a waterpipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco, known as shisha, where charcoal heats the tobacco and the smoke is drawn through water before being inhaled. Despite its gentle, social image, it is harmful, and the water does not filter out the harm. This guide explains, alongside our guide on whether shisha is bad for you.
Quick answer
A hookah is a waterpipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco, called shisha. Charcoal heats the tobacco, and the smoke is drawn through water and inhaled through a hose. It is often shared socially over a long session. Despite its mild image, hookah is harmful: the water does not filter out the harm, and the smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals.
What a hookah is and how it works
A hookah, also called a waterpipe or shisha pipe, is a device for smoking flavoured tobacco. Burning charcoal sits on top and heats the shisha tobacco, and as the user draws on a hose, the smoke passes down through a bowl of water and up to the mouthpiece. It is often used socially, shared between people over a session that can last a long time.
What a hookah is
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A waterpipe for smoking shisha tobacco |
| How it works | Charcoal heats tobacco; smoke drawn through water |
| Used | Often socially, over a long session |
| Water filters harm? | No, that is a myth |
| Harmful? | Yes |
Not as mild as it seems
Despite its relaxed, social image, a hookah is harmful. The common belief that the water filters out the harm is a myth, the smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and many toxic chemicals. Because a session can last a long time, the total amount of smoke inhaled can far exceed a single cigarette, and the burning charcoal adds carbon monoxide on top. So a hookah is not a safe way to use tobacco.
A hookah is a waterpipe for smoking flavoured shisha tobacco, heated by charcoal with the smoke drawn through water. The water does not filter out the harm, and it is harmful, not mild.
Myths and facts
| Myth | The reality |
|---|---|
| The water makes a hookah safe | No, that is a myth; the smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxins. |
| A hookah is harmless because it is fruity and smooth | The flavour does not change the harmful smoke you inhale. |
| A hookah session is milder than a cigarette | A long session can mean far more smoke than a single cigarette. |
| Only the tobacco matters | The burning charcoal also adds carbon monoxide. |
Frequently asked questions
What is a hookah?
A waterpipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco, shisha, where charcoal heats the tobacco and the smoke is drawn through water and inhaled.
Is hookah the same as shisha?
The terms are often used interchangeably; the hookah is the pipe, and shisha is the flavoured tobacco smoked in it.
Does the water filter out the harm?
No, that is a myth; the smoke still contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals.
Is hookah harmful?
Yes, it is harmful, and a long session can mean far more smoke than a single cigarette.
Does the charcoal add to the harm?
Yes, the burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide on top of the tobacco smoke.
The bottom line
A hookah is a waterpipe used to smoke flavoured tobacco, known as shisha, where burning charcoal heats the tobacco and the smoke is drawn through a bowl of water before being inhaled through a hose, often shared socially over a long session. Despite its mild, relaxed image, a hookah is harmful: the water does not filter out the harm, the smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals, and a long session can far exceed a single cigarette, with the burning charcoal adding more carbon monoxide on top of the tobacco smoke itself.
More help and related reading
If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you are unsure about a product or rule, our team and the official guidance are the best places to check.
- Is shisha bad for you?
- Hookah vs shisha
- What is heated tobacco?
- Browse the full Help and Guidance library
Key things to remember
- A waterpipe for smoking shisha tobacco
- Charcoal heats the tobacco; smoke drawn through water
- Often shared socially over a long session
- The water does not filter out the harm
- Harmful, not a mild option
Why the social image is misleading
Much of what makes a hookah seem harmless is the setting, it is social, relaxed, and the smoke is cool and flavoured, which feels gentler than a cigarette. But none of that removes the harmful substances, the smoothness and flavour simply make a large dose of smoke easier to inhale over a long session.
Add in the carbon monoxide from the burning charcoal, and a sociable hookah session can mean a surprisingly large exposure to harmful chemicals. So the relaxed image is misleading, a hookah is a genuinely harmful way to use tobacco.
Image versus reality
| Feature | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cool, smooth smoke | Easier to inhale a lot |
| Flavour | Masks harshness, not harm |
| Long sessions | More total smoke |
| Shared, social | Lowers the guard |
| Charcoal | Adds carbon monoxide |
A few more questions
Is herbal or tobacco free shisha safe?
No, burning any material and inhaling smoke is harmful, and herbal shisha still produces tar and carbon monoxide.
Do and don’t
Do
- Recognise a hookah is harmful, not mild
- Know the water does not filter out the harm
- Be aware a session can exceed a cigarette
- Consider stopping, with free support available
Try not to
- Believe the water makes it safe
- Assume flavour means less harm
- Treat a long session as harmless
- Think it is a safe alternative to cigarettes
Hookah and your health
Like other forms of smoking, hookah use is linked with serious health harms, because you are inhaling smoke containing tar, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals. The social, occasional pattern many people follow does not make it safe, and sharing a mouthpiece can also pass on infections between users.
For anyone wanting to move away from tobacco in any form, the healthiest step is to stop using it altogether, and free stop smoking services can help. For those who would otherwise smoke, less harmful nicotine options exist, but a hookah is not one of them.
Hookah health points
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Smoke | Tar, carbon monoxide, toxins |
| Long sessions | More total smoke |
| Shared mouthpiece | Can pass on infections |
| Occasional use | Still harmful |
| Healthiest step | Stop using tobacco |
More questions answered
Can you get addicted to hookah?
Yes, shisha tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive, so regular hookah use can lead to dependence.
Is secondhand hookah smoke harmful?
Yes, like other secondhand smoke it exposes others to harmful substances, including from the charcoal.
A couple more questions
How long does a hookah session last?
Often much longer than a cigarette, sometimes an hour or more shared between people, which means a large amount of smoke.
Is a hookah bar safer than smoking outside?
No, the indoor, shared setting can mean more smoke and secondhand exposure; the smoke is harmful wherever you are.
What is the difference between hookah and shisha?
The hookah is the waterpipe device; shisha is the flavoured tobacco smoked in it, though the words are often used interchangeably.
One more question
Is a hookah safer because the smoke is cooled?
No, cooling the smoke makes it easier to inhale a lot, but it does not remove the tar, carbon monoxide or toxic chemicals.
A quick word on safety and the law
Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.
UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.
This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, please speak to a GP or pharmacist.
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