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· Netherlands

• Dutch court closes pub for defying smoking ban 

Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2009-02-06

Intro:

Dutch judges are closing a cafe for a month for allowing its patrons to smoke.

It's the first case to be brought to court since smoking was banned in restaurants July 1.

The court fined the owners of the Kachel Cafe in the northern town of Groningen euro1,200 ($1,535) after they ignored six warnings. The cafe had argued it was too small to provide a separate smoking area.

Small bars and cafes report business has fallen 30 percent since July. Many are reportedly defying the ban.

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