A hookah bar, also known as a hookah lounge or shisha bar, is an establishment where patrons can smoke shisha, which is flavored tobacco, from a communal hookah or from one placed at each table or a bar. The hookah consists of a glass base, a bowl for the tobacco, a hose, and a hose handle. The tobacco is heated by charcoal, which is placed on top of the hookah bowl, and the smoke is drawn through the glass water base and into the hose, where the smoker inhales it. Hookahs were traditionally used by royalty and the upper class as a way to smoke tobacco with friends and family. In hookah lounges, patrons typically sit around a low table, sharing a hookah and engaging in conversation. The atmosphere is often relaxed and social, with music playing in the background and various shisha flavors available for smoking. However, hookah bars are a growing public health concern, as many hookah users do not understand the health risks that come along with the practice. Common incorrect beliefs include that shisha is not addictive and that the smoke contains fewer toxic chemicals and carcinogens. However, hookah smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals found in cigarettes and it has not been shown to be safer. The tobacco contains nicotine and is addictive. Hookah smoking can also be harmful to non-smokers since hookah releases many harmful substances (including particulate matter, nicotine, and carbon monoxide) in the air that are breathed in by anyone in the area. Due to the health concerns, many cities seek to create tougher restrictions for shisha bars, and some want them shut down altogether.