Why would they say that? When they were young, it was fashionable (and completely acceptable) for upper-class Muslim women to smoke huqqahs.
That said, as much as I love traditional customs, this is one I would definitely one I don’t care for. Smoking is a disgusting, unhealthy habit - regardless of whether you do it from a cigarette, a pipe, or a huqqah. Also, at least in the US, there are many places where anti-smoking laws would prohibit you from doing this anyways.
Yeah, except you’re still inhaling pure smoke and damaging your lungs. It’s not quite as bad as smoking tobacco (it’s not addictive), but you should still realize you’re inhaling poison.