I recently bought a hookah (from a hookah bar), and the guy who was
showing us how to work it suggested that we mix alcohol with the water
(in the base). Besides flavor, what are the effects of smoking out of
a hookah with an alcohol + water combination? (ie. does the alcohol
vaporize, and enter your bloodsteam quicker through your lungs?)

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Clarification of Question by kt_grl11-ga on 14 Sep 2006 15:08 PDT

The water in the base stays pretty much room temperature (just by
feel, it seems to stay rather cool). (1)The smoke also travels down a
long pipe before filtering through the water, so would the smoke even
be warm enough to vaporize the alcohol in the base? (2)And also, would
it cross-react with any of the chemicals in the smoke (tobacco), to
produce other potentially harmful chemicals (aside from the ones that
are already present)? I doubt that there is any information on #2, but
and answer to #1 + reference, would be sufficient.

Thanks Neil, for the comment: I have been to several Hookah bars where
they put shots of liquor/alcohol in the base so it must be somewhat
common. I'm not really looking to "abuse" my hookah.

Likely, the alcohol vapor enters your blood stream faster than
drinking an equivelent amount. I suggest that you do not abuse
substances, as you will come to regret much later, if you don't
experience quick disadvantages.  Neil

if you keep smoking this way for a few years ,you will be an alcoholic
and heavy smoker, you may be definitely be addicted to that way..

good luck