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Smoking rebellion spreads
24 September 2008

AD dedicates the front page as well as a two-page spread to a growing smokers' rebellion. The paper quotes Elly Hazewinkel, who represents the bar and restaurant sector in the town of Westland who says: "I’ve spoken to owners who have suffered a 30 percent drop in turnover."

The paper writes that the proprietors of bars in at least 11 towns are taking up collections to pay for eventual fines. About 1,000 businessmen have joined a pressure group.

In an interview, one pub owner told the AD: "We went along with the rules the first few months. We even bought a water-pistol to threaten clients in a humorous manner if someone tried to light a cigarette. Meanwhile you saw what was happening: customers stayed away, or left a lot sooner, or drank less because they stood outside smoking…Two weeks ago we brought back the ashtrays. We had no other choice."

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says nearly 20 percent of pubs are not obeying the smoking ban, which went into effect on 1 July. Not surprising, since the small pubs and restaurants are suffering the most.

Most politicians have little sympathy for the protest. Christian Democratic MP Ciska Joldersma says the owners of smaller businesses "had time to prepare themselves…We can’t make any exceptions." Labour MP Lea Bouwmeester says the protest "is unfair towards pubs which are observing the smoking ban….Everyone must obey the law."

Source

This could be very interesting.
I wonder if CSs have seen a decline since the Ban?
Nice1

This is very interesting, but nothing new in respects of a down-turn in turnover. All other countries have had the same effect after there smoking ban. So the situation is hardly unique to the Netherlands in the slightest. For the record I'm neither for or against the tobacco smoking ban. I feel it should be left for each establishment to decide to impose it.

But if the Netherlands IS suffering from it in a more direct way than other countries (no capacity for sealed areas or "beer gardens" for example) I wander if those in power have the right or nerve to remove the smoking ban\law to save there econemy and tourist industry if they come under a lot of preasure?.

I know the law is the law etc of cause. But how many countries in Europe can say they have never had laws imposed on them by the EU that they have never wanted?.

hurrah for the rebellion

Dave J wrote:This is very interesting, but nothing new in respects of a down-turn in turnover. All other countries have had the same effect after there smoking ban. So the situation is hardly unique to the Netherlands in the slightest. For the record I'm neither for or against the tobacco smoking ban. I feel it should be left for each establishment to decide to impose it.

But if the Netherlands IS suffering from it in a more direct way than other countries (no capacity for sealed areas or "beer gardens" for example) I wander if those in power have the right or nerve to remove the smoking ban\law to save there econemy and tourist industry if they come under a lot of preasure?.

I know the law is the law etc of cause. But how many countries in Europe can say they have never had laws imposed on them by the EU that they have never wanted?.

Yeah I thinks a bullshit Law and agree that people should choose to have smoking or nonsmoking. I quit the tobaca a while back but still feel if a worker is that effected by the smoke dont work there. To much bullshit so little time. Peace.