This is a very good decision. At last Netherlands is taking note of the fact that millions of non-smoking people suffer due to passive smoking. What is appalling is the callous attitude of smokers who disregard the presence of small children, elderly people or even pregnant women for a self-centered pleasure which can be a nuisance for others. People smoking inside the small enclosures at the bus-stops and even the restaurants should be addressed to by putting suitable notices. There should be separate areas allocated in restaurants for smokers or at best most family restaurants should ban smoking inside.

By Rita | June 30, 2008 7:58 PM

I am so tired of this debate. Some of you are really starting to sound like religious zealots.

By Jen | June 30, 2008 10:28 PM

so, in the summer, the smokers get the pick of the sunny terraces, whilst the non-smokers have to choose either to be fumigated or to stay inside

By Sarah Brooke | July 1, 2008 1:54 PM

Sarah - as a smoker, I'll be happy to trade with you. You non-smokers can have the outside and we'll take the inside. Wait, that didn't make you happy so we have to give up the inside and take the outside... and that's not making you happy. How about if we all set ourselves on fire for that last great smoke. Would that make you happy???

By Tim Lee | July 1, 2008 2:48 PM

That would make me happy! I think it would make all of us happy!

By Sonia | July 2, 2008 2:36 PM

How about those of us who have to suffer passively inhaling the thick tobacco smoke of neighbours, in our own homes, and only to be told by the Authorities that there is nothing they can do about it!!! try no sleep for days due to coughing/wheezing and barely able to breathe, actually gasping for air due to the 20 hours a day chain smoking by neighbours and coming thru the door, windows, and even the cracks in the walls - flat in poorly maintained, approx. 200 old Dutch house, so lots of problems.

By Gerard | July 2, 2008 4:55 PM

Tim.......Yes

By Henry Reid | July 2, 2008 7:20 PM

People, people, have a joing and chill the heck down! There should be some places that allow smoking and some that dont, just like there are some places you can buy alcohol and some places you cant. No-one is mentioning the restriction in personal freedoms here, how many of you will be happy if alcohol is banned, its a logical next step, they'll try and ban anything that has a negative aspect to it, just in case it affects your health, and guess what!? We all gonna die one day of something, I think we all need to just relax and reach sensible comprimises.

By Lee | July 3, 2008 9:38 AM

Okay, now that you've all taken the bait let me throw this out for discussion. Let's assume that tobacco smoke is as dangerous as we're told it is. Factor in that science has proven that cannabis smoke is more toxic than tobacco smoke. When the gevernment restricts tobacco and not cannabis, is the government really acting in the best interest of the citizens? In fact, in the US tobacco smoke is the number one killer of Americans (according to the government). If ths number one killer of Americans was a serial killer, no law enforcement officer would sleep until that killer was behind bars. Why don't we treat cigarettes the same way? If they are that dangerous, why are they even legal?

By Tim Lee | July 3, 2008 9:44 AM

Tim, I think you make a good point, but the comparison to a serial killer doesnt quite hold up, as a serial killer will kill instantly and it isnt self inflicted, so the victim has no control over the killers decision to kill. Whereas people are free to choose to smoke or not.Another difference is smoking tobacco cam't kill instantly ie. by way of overdose, strangely in comparison though its relatively easy to overdose and die from drinking alcohol. Why are they legal, simply because people have enjoyed doing it for thousands of years but only in recent times has scientific data been accepted that it does cause damage to your long term health. But smoking tobacco smoke is like playing russian roulette, its statistical so you could smoke all your adult life and live to hundred, its possible but not likely. I think it makes sense to control where smoking is permitted, but to ban it everywhere is not fair and in the long term wont work, humans have been imbibing, infusing, injecting substances since forever, therefore there will always be a market for these sorts of things. Banning everything doesnt destroy the market, it destroys the legal market, meaning legitmate companies see reduced profits, they may decide to cease trading in that product altogether and that creates a black market, with higher prices and reduced quality, and increased criminal and anti social elements. Stupid governments are creating more problems for themselves and our future generations are going to pay for their short sightedness.

By Lee | July 3, 2008 7:40 PM

Tim - please note : Lee isn't me.

By Lee Mitchell | July 8, 2008 11:49 AM