Councils are reluctant to close down illegal teenage drinking dens because they are afraid of causing a public disturbance by shifting the problem elsewhere, said health minister Ab Klink on Tuesday, reported news agency ANP.

So far no illegal bars, popular with under-age drinkers in rural areas, have been shut down, despite council pledges to take action, ANP said.
In January 2007, the local authorities association VNG and food safety body VWA said they were to clamp down on teenage drinking dens in 20 areas. The Netherlands has an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 illegal bars where children as young as 13 are regular customers, the AD newspaper reported at the time.
For an earlier story on illegal drinking dens, click here