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Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 05:33 am
by Puffin13
Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
We all know that smoking is bad for our health. Actually giving up this bad habit is as difficult as it’s always been. And people sitting near smokers are forced to inhale the smoke, whether they want to or not. That is one of the reasons why smoking is now banned in public areas in the Netherlands (and indeed in many other parts of the world as well). In July 2008, a smoking ban will come into effect in all hospitality venues in the Netherlands. The ban will also include discotheques.
Total ban on smoking?
So will this mean that any visitor to the Netherlands, so also Amsterdam, will not be allowed to light up a cigarette or a cigar in a hotel, restaurant, café, snack bar or any other establishment covered by the new law, including discotheques? The answer is both yes and no – inveterate smokers needn’t despair, as there is actually a solution for them.
Designated areas
Say you’re enjoying a cup of coffee after a delicious meal in one of Amsterdam’s many restaurants and you would like a cigarette or cigar. Will you have to go stand outside? Not if your restaurant has a designated smoking area, closed off from the rest of the public area. In such designated areas smoking is allowed. To protect hospitality staff against second-hand smoke, service is not provided in these areas. So if you fancy a second cup of coffee, you will have to return to the ‘regular’ section of the restaurant.
Regulation
The regulation allowing smoking in designated areas is of course not restricted to restaurants, but is applicable for all establishments covered by the new law. Therefore venues like discotheques are also permitted to create such ‘sanctuaries’.
Coffee shops
In the Netherlands, a ‘Coffee Shop’ is where you go not to drink coffee, but to smoke cannabis. The same regulation applies to Coffee Shop as to all other hospitality venues: no service is allowed in designated smoking areas. As it would be somewhat absurd to create a designated smoking area in a Coffee Shop, the roles will be reversed here. You may smoke in a Coffee Shop, but no service will be provided. So if you would like something to drink while you smoke you will have to go to the designated non-smoking area. There the staff is allowed to serve you.
Source
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 06:25 am
by Bernum
good to read something concerning this that sounds solid....sounds as though i will be able to mix baccy with my weed in certain coffeeshops....
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 07:29 am
by Szyslack
Bernum wrote:good to read something concerning this that sounds solid....sounds as though i will be able to mix baccy with my weed in certain coffeeshops....
Exactly my thoughts... Guess it's gonna be a hash-trip next time after all...
Re: Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 08:17 am
by itsmymagicallife
Puffin13 wrote:Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Coffee shops
In the Netherlands, a ‘Coffee Shop’ is where you go not to drink coffee, but to smoke cannabis. The same regulation applies to Coffee Shop as to all other hospitality venues: no service is allowed in designated smoking areas. As it would be somewhat absurd to create a designated smoking area in a Coffee Shop, the roles will be reversed here. You may smoke in a Coffee Shop, but no service will be provided. So if you would like something to drink while you smoke you will have to go to the designated non-smoking area. There the staff is allowed to serve you.
Source
But what this report fails to mention is that pure cannabis smoking will still be allowed after July 1, 2008 in all areas of a coffeeshop. The rules for tobacco smoking or a mixed joint of cannabis & tobacco will be the same for coffeeshops as well as all other businesses in the Netherlands, only allowed in a separate room that employees are not allowed to serve you. So " the roles will be reversed here" is not a correct statement.
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 08:23 am
by itsmymagicallife
Bernum wrote:good to read something concerning this that sounds solid....sounds as though i will be able to mix baccy with my weed in certain coffeeshops....
This report is far from "solid" as for their coffeeshop report.
All coffeeshops have the option to make a separate room where tobacco mixed joints will be allowed but none to my knowledge in Amsterdam have done so as of today. And only about 5 weeks till the new anti-tobacco rules come into effect.
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 09:38 am
by Dave J
Prehaps the coffeeshops have identified "loopholes" in the smoking law to get around the ban?. As said before there are simply to many grey areas open to not so much breaking the ban, but certainly bending the ban.
I mean an employee may receive no wage for a several hour "free" service in the coffeeshop (in theory not an employee during those hours). But will receive a lump sum for setting up the premises for an hour prior to opening of after closing!. In theory they are doing non payed work while the coffeeshop is open and they are servicing in it for free but a "hugh" lump sum for an hour either side while there is no smoking in the place. Not saying anything like that will happen of cause, just my theory on how easy it would possably be to "bend" the smoking ban laws.
As it is now it may well hurt a hell of a lot of coffeeshops in some 5 weeks time. So it seems very strange that they have not started to make some alterations to abide with the smoking ban law and make alterations to there premesis to allow for those who cant or wont\dont smoke pure joints. Or even those who stick to the hash, pure jointing hash wont work and how many do you see using a pipe or bong in a coffeeshop for hash?, next to none at all I'll guess?. If trade falls a hell of a lot it may force some to close or to make alterations in a period where they simply cant afford to do so.
So I'm thinking that either they know something we dont and have found loopholes or will try the slightly crazy but probably legal idea like I suggested above!.
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 10:18 am
by itsmymagicallife
Dave J wrote:Prehaps the coffeeshops have identified "loopholes" in the smoking law to get around the ban?
There are no loopholes in the anti-tobacco smoking rules in the Netherlands as of today. Very simple rule, no employees allowed to work in any room where tobacco or mixed joint smoking is allowed.
My guess is that most coffeeshops will wait to the last moment to make changes to their establishment and that there will be a few coffeeshops prepared for a separate room on July 1, 2008. Most other coffeeshops will soon after start to make changes if possible for their space (many coffeeshops would seem to be to small to have a separate room for tobacco).
Time for many to see advantages of smoking pure!
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 12:48 pm
by sh@dy
itsmymagicallife wrote:Dave J wrote:Prehaps the coffeeshops have identified "loopholes" in the smoking law to get around the ban?
There are no loopholes in the anti-tobacco smoking rules in the Netherlands as of today. Very simple rule, no employees allowed to work in any room where tobacco or mixed joint smoking is allowed.
My guess is that most coffeeshops will wait to the last moment to make changes to their establishment and that there will be a few coffeeshops prepared for a separate room on July 1, 2008. Most other coffeeshops will soon after start to make changes if possible for their space (many coffeeshops would seem to be to small to have a separate room for tobacco).
Time for many to see advantages of smoking pure!
There are different shops like Dampkring that already work on a smoker-room. On our last trip I saw many shops being worked on, different areas closed etc. etc. so I think there should be at least a few who will have those smoking-areas at 1st of july
Re: Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 03:24 pm
by NirvanaEJ
Puffin13 wrote:
You may smoke in a Coffee Shop, but no service will be provided. So if you would like something to drink while you smoke you will have to go to the designated non-smoking area. There the staff is allowed to serve you.
Source
Im sorry now I am confused , does this mean you will be allowed to smoke tobacco in general areas of the coffeeshop but not by the dealer or bar areas? or does it mean theres a seperate tobacco section that one would have to enter and exit to get food or drink?
Re: Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 04:59 pm
by itsmymagicallife
NirvanaEJ wrote:Puffin13 wrote:
You may smoke in a Coffee Shop, but no service will be provided. So if you would like something to drink while you smoke you will have to go to the designated non-smoking area. There the staff is allowed to serve you.
Source
Im sorry now I am confused , does this mean you will be allowed to smoke tobacco in general areas of the coffeeshop but not by the dealer or bar areas? or does it mean theres a seperate tobacco section that one would have to enter and exit to get food or drink?
It's a very badly written section dealing with coffeeshops. What part of " Very simple rule, no employees allowed to work in any room where tobacco or mixed joint smoking is allowed" do you not understand?
Re: Smoking ban comes into effect 1 July 2008
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 05:06 pm
by NirvanaEJ
itsmymagicallife wrote:
It's a very badly written section dealing with coffeeshops. What part of " Very simple rule, no employees allowed to work in any room where tobacco or mixed joint smoking is allowed" do you not understand?
There is no part of that i dont understand, but others wrote different information, so i was looking for it to be cleared up, thats all.
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 07:42 pm
by Dave J
itsmymagicallife wrote:Dave J wrote:Prehaps the coffeeshops have identified "loopholes" in the smoking law to get around the ban?
There are no loopholes in the anti-tobacco smoking rules in the Netherlands as of today. Very simple rule, no employees allowed to work in any room where tobacco or mixed joint smoking is allowed.
My guess is that most coffeeshops will wait to the last moment to make changes to their establishment and that there will be a few coffeeshops prepared for a separate room on July 1, 2008. Most other coffeeshops will soon after start to make changes if possible for their space (many coffeeshops would seem to be to small to have a separate room for tobacco).
Time for many to see advantages of smoking pure!
Can I ask if by chance you know how those who smoke hash are dealing with the issue or intend dealing with the issue?.
Then again as said elsewere tobacco free alternative mixers may seem the only answer if you want to smoke at a bar, assuming that will be tollorated, which there seems little reason to think otherwise.
Prehaps we should all try and get used to the feel taste and idea of tobacco free mixers?. Who knows, after time they may not seem so bad or even better once mixed with the weed or hash!.
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 08:25 pm
by Bhang Buddie
Just use a neat pipe, then there's no problem
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 08:41 pm
by NirvanaEJ
us americans always (at least the stoners i know of) smoke our buds neat whether its a bowl or a spliff, so u guys can now try it too
Posted: Sat 24th May 2008 09:27 pm
by Bhang Buddie
Yeah man, I'm UK an I gave up the 'dreaded weed' years ago, only use the 'Eagle Bill' now - 'nutha merican dream that's definitely far out