Smoking in coffee shops will be allowed (Netherlands)

[Lunar Loops]

This from DutchNews.nl:

Smoking in coffee shops will be allowed

Wednesday 04 July 2007
Health minister Ab Klink announced late last night in parliament that coffee shops, where cannabis can be sold legally, will not be threatened by the smoking ban which takes effect on July 1 2008, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.
'If we want to stop our policy of toleration, we should just do so, and not use the ban as an excuse,' he told MPs. However, despite the urging of Labour, centre-left D66 and the Green Left party, coffee shops will not be entirely exempt from the ban.
Klink insists that the counters where cannabis is sold must be smoke free. But as long as they are divided from the rest of the room, smoking on the premises will be allowed.
Klink also wants health insurers to include nicotine patches and courses on how to stop smoking in the basic health care package, according to the NOS news site. And he is also considering allowing insurers to offer people with a healthy lifestyle a lower premium.
The minister will present a full package of ideas for preventative healthcare after the summer recess.

Reputation Comments on this post:

thanks for the good news

[neversummer]

I dont think banning would be effective anyway..

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by neversummer

I dont think banning would be effective anyway..

We all know that restrictions on drug use almost always have negative and detrimental consequences. Banning smoking in Coffee Shops would force the culture to turn elsewhere, open smoking on the streets for instance which would be a great hindrance to public order. At least if the culture is maintained within coffee shops it is more controllable and monitorable.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Nothing to stop them having a sheltered outdoor smoking area even if the ban did come in.

[Joe Duffy]

Originally Posted by rocksmokinmachine

Nothing to stop them having a sheltered outdoor smoking area even if the ban did come in.

I thought in the Netherlands you weren’t allow to smoke cannabis outside anyhow.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Originally Posted by Joe Duffy

I thought in the Netherlands you weren’t allow to smoke cannabis outside anyhow.

Yes cannabis can be smoked outdoors, its in the streets it is generally frowned upon and seen as impolite, especially infront of older people/kids/familes. I was suggesting maybe a sort of covered up patio area. There are still many coffeeshops in The Netherlands with outdoor smoking areas.

[Alfa]

Except the cold and the wind.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Yes that is a point Alfa. I wonder how many people would charge to let tourists smoke in thier private premises. Seems quite lucrative.

Damn these Christian Democrats.