The hookah is known as Shisha in Tunisia. Everyday, Walid and his friends meet up at a local Hookah cafe in the capital city Tunis. The 40 year old merchant has been smoking for so many years, that he does not even remember his first Hookah.
“I come here after work to play cards. I smoke up 5 Hookahs per day. That’s how I concentrate and enjoy my free time. I don’t remember when I started smoking. It was a long time ago,” Walid, a local Shisha merchant, told CGTN.
Some people are not aware of the harmful effects of hookah on their health. Experts warn that smoking one Shisha is like smoking 20 cigarettes.
This year, less than 10% of Tunisian adults quit smoking hookah for health or financial reasons.
CGTN’s Adnen Chaouachi brings us more on that story:
