A Chapel Hill hookah bar owner who’s been engaged in a public battle against the state’s smoking ban is finding it just as frustrating to try and comply with the law as it is to fight it.

On Monday, Adam Bliss, owner of Hookah Bliss on Franklin Street, notified the Orange County Health Department that he has stopped selling beer, reluctantly putting a temporary halt to his defiance until he can raise money for a legal fight. By ending beer sales, Bliss is seeking to meet the law’s definition of a tobacco shop, which is exempt from the ban.

Bliss’ call to the county triggered a late Monday visit from Tom Konsler, Orange County’s environmental health director. The visit itself didn’t surprise Bliss. Last month, Konsler told Carolina Journal the onus is on Bliss to tell the county he’s come into compliance and then allow a follow-up inspection.

But according to Bliss, instead of giving the business the seal of approval, Konsler told him he must also cancel Hookah Bliss’ alcohol permit, which Bliss renewed in March at a cost of $225. Once that’s done, Bliss must notify the county again and another compliance visit will follow.

Bliss is dumbfounded by the latest twist. “Apparently not serving alcohol isn’t good enough. I have to cancel the permit I just renewed,” Bliss said. “How can I be two different things at the same time?” he asked. “If I’m not serving alcohol, then I’m a smoke shop. There are lots of places that have alcohol permits that don’t serve alcohol.”

Bliss says he will do as instructed, but his frustration with the law, county enforcers, and legislators who supported the ban, is palpable. “I feel like I’m being forced to change my business for no better reason than politics,” he said. “I’m pretty ticked off at this point, but I’m not sure what I can do. I’m not rich. I’m a small-business owner.”

Bliss plans a series of fundraisers to fuel his effort to save the family business, which, until Monday, offered an extensive list of beer along with hookahs. He maintains hookahs aren’t a lighted tobacco product and, therefore, aren’t subject to the law. Hookahs consist of tobacco mixed with molasses, glycerin and flavorings, which go into a clay bowl. The tobacco isn’t actually burned.

If Bliss shuts his doors, he stands to lose $70,000 and will have to lay off his employees. The first fundraiser will likely take place in two weeks. Proceeds will go into a legal defense fund to pay for an attorney with whom he recently met.

“He sounded fairly sure that we might be able to pull this off, but it may end up having to go all the way to the North Carolina Supreme Court,” Bliss said. “Now we’re talking money and about a two-year time span.”

During Monday’s inspection, Bliss was also unable to find out much he owes the county in fines. He hasn’t received a bill. Last month, Konsler said Bliss’ fines began accruing March 22 and that the penalty would grow by $200 every day Bliss was open and in violation.

As he waited for Konsler’s visit, Bliss cleared the shelves of his extensive beer inventory — which accounts for 20 to 25 percent of his sales — and prepared to take it home. To try to mitigate the revenue loss, he plans to sell non-alcoholic drinks such as gourmet sodas, vitamin waters, energy drinks, and teas. He’s also raising the price of hookahs. On Monday, hookahs jumped from $10 and $13, to $12 and $15.

Donna Martinez is a contributor to Carolina Journal.