If I said it once I will say it again, actually for 10th time here I think. DUTCH COURTS ARE A JOKE!!!!! Time and time again they prove this...

By DR | July 3, 2009 2:46 PM

Shocking. These cases are funded by the tobacco industry. Looks like the courts are in their pockets too.

In Scotland, there was a 17 per cent reduction in heart attack admissions to nine Scottish hospitals after the ban.

And looking after smokers costs a lot of money for all of us. Why is no one cracking down on these cafes?

By AAAA | July 3, 2009 3:26 PM

The purpose of the ban is, in part, to protect people - regardless of which side of the counter they're on - from the dangers of cigarette smoke in confined public places. Bars & cafes are such places, regardless of their size or staffing levels.

By Russell | July 3, 2009 4:04 PM

Actually it is the fault of the Dutch Parliament for not drafting the laws correctly.

By Jamie Anderson | July 3, 2009 4:44 PM

Atually it's the same in the States - well, Massachusetts anyway, and the reason is simple, logical and conforms to the intent of the law. A smoking ban is to protect employees from 2nd hand smoke. The smoke makes for a hazardous work place and leads to law suits. Contrary to popoular belief, the law is not meant to protect patrons - because patrons don't have to be there, but workers do. Please don't say workers can work somewhere else, because they often can't. Owners can risk their own health if they choose. Good decision.

By Walter Noons | July 3, 2009 5:23 PM

Dutch lawmakers need a shake-up. I agree with DR

By Mark Gilligan | July 3, 2009 6:37 PM

Are you suggesting that allowing a buisiness owner to run his buisiness his way is wrong?

Or are you suggesting that poor legislation should deny someone the right to make a living?

Perhaps you are merely in contempt of court, or would be if you had the courage to stand up in court and say so.
Do you have the courage of your convictions?

By Soapy | July 3, 2009 10:00 PM

In Scotland, there was a 17 per cent reduction in heart attack admissions to nine Scottish hospitals after the ban

NO THERE WAS NOT. THERE WAS AN INCREASE !!! Check your facts.

By Shirley Krauss | July 3, 2009 11:52 PM

AAAA - are you referring to the Pell report with your figure of 17%, by any chance?
Read further - it's been reported as the one of the worst pieces of junk ever written. It's only used and believed by zealots and has been placed where it belongs by all reputable scientists and doctors - in the bin.
Even the official statistics from the Scottish Government(published months later) proved it incorrect.

By Helen | July 4, 2009 12:32 AM

AAAA - the 17% reduction in Heart Attacks in Scotland has been proved to be false.

The Anti-Smoking lobby is funded by big Pharma.

It is now recognised worldwide that SHS is a lie.

The Anti-Smoking organisations are crumbling and will pay for the economic devastation they have caused.

SMOKE LONG AND PROSPER ( Spock 2024 )

By The Terminator | July 4, 2009 12:39 AM

This is just another symptom of Dutch folks' twisted idea of fairness and "common sense". They're awfully proud to have liberated themselves from old-fashioned concepts such as right and wrong, and anyone exhibiting a "moral compass" must be shown the error of their ways.

Backwards, upside-down country.

By YoMamma | July 4, 2009 7:03 AM

My question is ..where are all the nonsmokers ?
Everyone is outside. I look inside the bar/cafe and they are empty. It seems that the non smokers who have been pushing for the ban either don't go to cafes or are out with the smokers sucking up all that disgusting cigarette smoke. Even the employees come out to have a smoke break themselves. If there was an organized push by cafe employees to have the ban, it might be different but the ones I speak to either smoke themselves or aren't bothered by people smoking.
What's next? Limiting alcohol consumption? Why can't non and smoking cafes both be available? If so, I'll bet he non smoking ones would be pretty empty.

By molly Garris | July 4, 2009 9:38 AM

The second comment above regarding a 17% reduction in heart attack admissions in Scotland has been proven over and over again as shear fantasy.

By Graham | July 4, 2009 9:57 AM

Grow up people. You are adults. You don't need the gov't to protect you from the big bad cigarette smoker. I need protection from you social engineering moralists who see fit to try to live my life and not your own. You people are incecssant. You run down the list of all things supposedly bad for your or is possibly dangerous, and you try to ban them. You people need jobs so you create problems that of course you will solve ...for pay. I am on to you safety nazis and I and others are pushing back. If you don't want to breathe in smoke , don't go to establishments that allow smoking. If you argue for the "safety" of the workers, let them sign a waiver. Also, this may come as a shock to some of you do-gooders on this board, but we all will die one day. That means you mister safety nazi. Some will die violent deaths, and some not so messy deaths, but we all will die and most will need medical care way beyond what they pay for. How about I pry into your life mister safety nazi and see what I can find out about your manure that I don't like and want banned for "PUBLIC SAFETY?" Do you see where I am going with this safety nazis? Sometimes death is the price of freedom. I am willing to live with that reality and frankly when the time comes, death will be a sweet release, because I can't imagine 30 years from now what kind of safety fascism will be coming my way. I don't want to live in a damned cage. I don't want to live under the camera eye, I don't want to live with endless monitoring. I want choice with responsibility. It is called FREEDDOM!!! As far as dutch courts go, you all should know that there is a saying in the Netherlands that goes, "The soup is served hotter than it is eaten (refering to bad law) Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed and the lunacy of anti-smoking laws is being realised. Your days as my nannie are over safety nazis

By Robert R. | July 4, 2009 3:47 PM

Spot on Robert R!!!

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING touted by anti-smoking whackos and nut-jobs has eventually been proved to be either factually wrong, grossly exaggerated or just plain Lies!! Yet Still we have people saying they believe that smoking bans were to protect workers - Still saying that SHS is harmful- Still bringing up the totally fallacious and discredited 17% reduction in heart attacks- Still saying that smokers cost more in health care when they are in fact a NET cash PROVIDER (by a considerable amount) for non-smokers health care.

We even have people decrying the Dutch legal system when they have shown the wherewithal to understand when something is patently WRONG, the courage to do something about it, and wisdom to rule in accordance with common sense and the common good! They are not the first nor will they be the last.

Note; Anti-tobacco zealots, anti-freedom extremists and fanatical social engineers – The tally-man will soon be calling at your door!

By Kin | July 5, 2009 3:24 PM

Many large bars have built a smoking area so as not to lose their patrons. Let the small cafe apply for a smoking license.

If governments were honest, they would put a health warning on alcohol & fast food, not to mention housing people next to busy polluted roads.
For a nation of ever increasing "Piggies", and alcoholics, does anyone know the enormous risk of heart attack and cancer? The Dutch government is either ignorant, dishonest or hypocritical...

By stevie | August 28, 2009 11:45 PM