Since the 1960s, when cigarettes were considered unhealthy, there has been an ongoing effort to educate people about the tragic effects of smoking. It seems like you can't go a day without hearing about how harmful cigarettes are. Some people even fall victim to secondhand smoke every day. For some, the constant reminder that cigarettes are bad for you is a nuisance. For others, it can be a helpful way to stop them from smoking. However, advertising and warning labels are not enough to protect and educate people about the dangers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Some teenagers claim to smoke hookah because it is safe, or at least safer than smoking cigarettes or marijuana. Unfortunately they are wrong; smoking hookah is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than smoking cigarettes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (source A), contrary to popular belief that water pipe smoking has few or no side effects and is less harmful than cigarette smoke, the smoke that comes out of water pipes contains several toxins known to cause lung cancer, mouth cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Researchers found that hookah smokers inhale more often and for longer periods than regular cigarette smokers. Scientists estimate that by smoking longer and at a greater volume, a waterpipe smoker inhales the equivalent of 100 cigarettes or more during a single waterpipe session. In addition to smoking, when teens inhale hookah from a bong, they are also inhaling the addictive chemical. called nicotine, which is most commonly associated with cigarettes. While you may think you're avoiding this unpleasant substance by indulging in hookah smoking instead, that's not the case. According to the Mayo Clinic (source B), hookah smoke contains about the same amount of nicotine as cigarettes, putting smokers at risk for tobacco addiction in much the same way as cigarette smoking. So why choose hookah over cigarettes if it's just as legal and lethal as cigarettes? The answer is because hookah is more socially acceptable. In today's world we see smoking cigarettes becoming a banned practice everywhere, from beaches to restaurants; it seems that nowadays the only refuge for a cigarette smoker is his own home. It is more social for teenagers to sit in groups and smoke hookah rather than cigarettes. Hookah is more about the experience, while smoking cigarettes is more of a necessity. Sweet, sweet flavors attract children, and popular myths that smoking hookah is not as bad for you as smoking cigarettes only add to the appeal. However, tobacco products cannot be sold or supplied to anyone under 18 years of age and a fine of R100,000.00 will be imposed if they do so. The law requires the sale of flavored tobacco products used for smoking a hookah pipe, or hubbly sparkling wine. Many tobacco laws are often misunderstood or simply ignored. Tobacco legislation in South Africa is constantly evolving and ignorant smokers could find themselves on the wrong side of the law with fines of up to R100 000.00 (Source D). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay If teens smoke hookah because they think it is safe, legal, or more socially acceptable than smoking cigarettes, they are making a bad decision. Smoking hookah is as legal and dangerous as smoking cigarettes, and even though they think they look good doing it, teenagers.