Concerned that his sales have plummeted during the first week of thestatewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, the owner of a ChapelHill hookah bar is encouraging people to snitch to government officialsthat he’s defying the ban. Adam Bliss, owner of Hookah Bliss, says heneeds an official violation notice from Orange County in order toproceed with his plan to fight the law in court.

Blisshasn’t stopped selling hookahs and beer at his Franklin Streetestablishment that caters to the college crowd. Even so, he hasn’treceived a notice from the county. Bliss may even file a complainthimself to speed the process. “I’ve never had so much trouble gettingin trouble,” he says.

Achieving his goal will require more thanone informant to rat him out. In December, Tom Konsler, Orange County’senvironmental health director, told Carolina Journal the county’s firstresponse to a complaint would be to talk with the owner. A warningletter would be sent if complaints continue. A subsequent complaintwould trigger a second warning letter. Additional violations couldtrigger a fine of up to $200 per day.


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