The manager of a shisha bar has been fined for allowing customers to smoke on the premises.
Bari Regazzi, of Rawcliffe Road, Walton, the manager of Brado’s in Maryland Street, admitted two charges under the Health Act of 2006 at Liverpool Magistrates Court. He was fined £200 on each charge and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
The court was told that officers from the council’s Alcohol and Tobacco Unit and Merseyside Policed visited the bar in August last year when they saw customers smoking shisha. Mr Regazzi was told that it was an offence to allow smoking in enclosed premises and offered advice in relation to the sale of shisha
A follow-up visit took place in November when groups of customers were witnessed smoking sisha.
Mr Regazzi told the court that he had informed his employer that they would need to cease providing shisha to customers but he had been told to carry on. This led to him leaving his employment although he accepted that, as the manager, he was responsible for allowing the offence.
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said; “Shisa bars are not, in themselves, illegal but they cannot allow customers to smoke inside and despite warnings this was allowed to continue at this bar.
“The smoking ban was introduced to protect the health of customers and staff. This bar is near to the University campus and the City of Liverpool College and as such presented a danger that young people would be encouraged to smoke with detrimental effects on their health.”