RAPID CITY (AP) -- A judge has refused to block the enforcement of South Dakota's smoking ban at a hookah lounge in Rapid City.
Judge Jeff Davis informed the attorney for Ifrit's Hookah Lounge that he does not have the authority to issue a requested injunction that would allow the business to continue selling both alcohol and tobacco products.
Hookah lounges are for people who use water pipes with burning charcoal to ingest tobacco. The owners of Ifrit's do not believe that it constitutes smoking under the state statute. Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender and Pennington County State's Attorney Glenn Brenner disagree.
Ifrit's attorney Stephen Wesolick tells the media that he's prepared to keep pursuing the matter in court.
