Shisha Facts
Shisha is a cultural staple and a form of social engagement for diverse communities worldwide, with a rich heritage dating back centuries to India, Persia, and the Greater Middle East.
Flavored shisha products typically contain between 15% and 25% tobacco, with the remaining constituents being glycerin, flavoring, and sugars.
Shisha is heated by an external source, usually charcoal, to approximately 190°C, releasing a cloud that is primarily composed of water, glycerol, propylene glycol, whilst also containing both flavours and nicotine.
Shisha is generally enjoyed occasionally. In the US, 90% of shisha users partake monthly [1], while in Germany, the Federal Risk Institute reports an average usage of twice a week [2].
Shisha transcends cultural boundaries, uniting people through a shared social experience.
Shisha is typically enjoyed as a social pastime. Its preparation requires time, skill, and special equipment. It is often consumed in dedicated social venues.
Shisha is not conducive to underage use due to its large, non-portable, and non-discreet equipment, lengthy preparation, and session duration of 45 minutes to an hour.
According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey [3], shisha has significantly lower youth usage compared to other tobacco products like e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, nicotine pouches, smokeless tobacco, and other oral nicotine products.
Almost all shisha consumed globally is flavored.
Shisha molasses can only be consumed through a large, specialized device known as a water pipe and cannot be smoked in cigarettes, vapes, or any other instruments.
REFERENCES
[1] Journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, June 2018
https://www.jstor.org/stable/e26771723
[2] Deutsche Bundesinstitut fur Riskobewertung (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) (2018). Frequently asked questions about waterpipes.
http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/frequently_asked_questions_about_water_pipes-60838.html
[3] National Youth Tobacco Survey - Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2023.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7244a1.htm
