Why shisha bars in France are attracting a devoted Gen Z clientele

Far from the stigmatised image of the shisha bars of yesteryear, Gen Z clients in France are gradually appropriating this meeting place and transforming it into a 2.0 bistro. Photo: AFP

Hookah, waterpipe, shisha... no matter what you call it, its use has increased dramatically in the last 15-20 years, to the point of becoming a particularly popular practice for many Gen Zers.

According to a 2006 World Health Organisation report, 100 million people around the world use shisha daily, mostly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. But since the 2000s, hookah has made its way to young Westerners.