http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/netherlands.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5284370&page=1 http://tobacco.org/news/268277.html Starting today, it's illegal to smoke cigarettes in any of Amsterdam's coffee shops. But smoking marijuana is still allowed. The Netherlands is the latest European country to ban tobacco smoking from public places - including restaurants, bars and clubs - to protect the health of employees. But in a country known for its relaxed policies toward "soft" drugs like marijuana, many are scratching their heads. "It's totally illogical," said Charly Moinet, one of the managers at the Greenhouse, a popular coffee shop for tourists. "It doesn't make sense to allow marijuana but not tobacco, especially because most people mix the two in the same joint." ABC News Netherlands Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4251736.ece http://tobacco.org/news/268275.html Coughing and spluttering resonated around Tweede Kamer coffeeshop in Amsterdam yesterday as customers got to grips with new Dutch smoking regulations that prohibit tobacco but not marijuana. "They're having to smoke pure weed now and they're not used to it," Frank, working behind the counter, said. "That's why there's all this coughing. It's going to be quite tricky." The Netherlands' unique approach to smoking was much in evidence yesterday as it became the latest European country after the likes of Britain and France to introduce a ban on lighting-up in public places. Officials gave warning that offenders would face fines of between €300 (£240) and €2,400 (£1,900) if they were caught puffing on a cigarette in a bar, restaurant or café. But government lawyers said that the legislation only applied to tobacco. Times Of London Netherlands Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/06/30/1214677923266.html http://tobacco.org/news/268248.html Dutch cafes, restaurants and coffee shops are bracing themselves for a feared exodus of patrons when a public smoking ban for the hospitality industry enters into force on Tuesday. "It is clear that enterprises are awaiting the ban with dread: polls show that 60 percent are thinking of selling their businesses," said a recent statement from horecasite.nl -- claiming to be the Netherlands' biggest online retail agency for the hotel, restaurant and cafe (horeca) industry. It said there had been an increase by nearly a quarter in the number of enterprises up for sale -- from 1350 in January to 1600 in June. The Age Netherlands Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pr-inside.com/tobacco-in-the-netherlands-to-r663264.htm http://tobacco.org/news/268121.html This databook is a detailed information resource covering all the key data points on Tobacco in the Netherlands. It includes comprehensive value volume segmentation and market share data. The databook supplies actual data to 2006 and full forecasts to 2011. PR Insider Netherlands Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080701/ts_afp/netherlandshealthsmokingban_080701174200 http://tobacco.org/news/268106.html A tobacco smoking ban came into force Tuesday in cafes, bars and restaurants throughout the Netherlands, with a uniquely Dutch exemption for marijuana smokers. While patrons are no longer allowed to light up cigarettes, they can still smoke marijuana in the country's specially licensed "coffee" shops as long as their joints contain no tobacco. Agence France Presse Netherlands Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2008/06/fewer_smokers_smoking_more.php http://tobacco.org/news/268079.html The number of smokers in the Netherlands has fallen by almost 100,000 a year since 2000, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday. Nevertheless, sales of cigarettes and rolling tobacco have risen since 2005 DutchNews.nl Netherlands Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080701-0657-netherlands-smokingban.html http://tobacco.org/news/268041.html Dutch restaurants and bars sent tobacco smokers out the door Tuesday, enforcing a public smoking ban that went into effect even in the “coffee shops” where marijuana smokers were welcome to stay. Some bars hosted smoking parties to mark the end of indoor cigarette use on Monday night. Smokers counted down to midnight, taking their last puffs inside and trading cigarettes for lollipops or heading outside after the clock struck 12:00. AP jennifer.davies@uniontrib.com (Anrica Deb ASSOCIATED PRESS) Netherlands Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://ph.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080702/tts-netherlands-health-smoking-ban-509a08e.html http://tobacco.org/news/267902.html A tobacco smoking ban came into force Tuesday in cafes, bars and restaurants throughout the Netherlands, with a uniquely Dutch exemption for marijuana smokers. While patrons are no longer allowed to light up cigarettes, they can still smoke marijuana in the country's specially licensed "coffee" shops as long as their joints contain no tobacco. Agence France Presse Netherlands Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080701/twl-netherlands-smoking-ban-1be00ca.html http://tobacco.org/news/267901.html Dutch restaurants and bars sent tobacco smokers out the door Tuesday, enforcing a public smoking ban that went into effect even in the "coffee shops" where marijuana smokers were welcome to stay. Some bars hosted smoking parties to mark the end of indoor cigarette use on Monday night. AP Netherlands Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/080630-smoking-coffeeshops http://tobacco.org/news/267888.html A majority in parliament wanted to exempt coffee shops from the ban. There was concern that the government was seeking to use anti-smoking policy to restrict coffee shops and toughen up drugs policy via the back door. Health Minister Ab Klink however, took no notice: in future smoking will also be taboo in coffee shops. Smokers will only be able to light up if there is a separate smoking room. The sale of the soft drugs has to take place in a smoke-free area. However, smoking pure marijuana or hashish - without tobacco - will be allowed throughout the premises. A brief tour of coffee shops in the Netherlands reveals that the owners and managers are particularly concerned about the possible consequences of the smoking ban. They are worried that local governments, which are responsible for enforcing the ban, will use it as a roundabout way of getting rid of coffee shops. Radio Netherlands Netherlands Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKgcWIBc8VPFpGZRkUe4m3q334pQ http://tobacco.org/news/267877.html A smoking ban went into effect Tuesday in cafes, restaurants and bars across the Netherlands, as the country joins a growing list of European countries to tighten rules on tobacco use in public places. Smoking marijuana in the Netherlands' infamous "coffee shops" is still permitted under the new law -- as long the drug is not mixed with tobacco. Owners of cafes and bars are bracing for a feared plunge in business, and even coffee shops expect to be hurt by the measure as most Dutch marijuana smokers prefer to blend it with tobacco. Agence France Presse Netherlands Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0LR5Mrd0esVrb5OPbHQ72VXdmsg http://tobacco.org/news/267823.html Dutch cafes, restaurants and coffee shops are bracing themselves for a feared exodus of patrons when a public smoking ban for the hospitality industry enters into force on Tuesday. "It is clear that enterprises are awaiting the ban with dread: polls show that 60 percent are thinking of selling their businesses," said a recent statement from horecasite.nl -- claiming to be the Netherlands' biggest online retail agency for the hotel, restaurant and cafe (horeca) industry. It said there had been an increase by nearly a quarter in the number of enterprises up for sale -- from 1,350 in January to 1,600 in June. Agence France Presse Netherlands Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-26-amsterdam-tobacco_N.htm http://tobacco.org/news/267768.html A tobacco ban that goes into effect Tuesday in the Netherlands has both tourists and shop owners, like, totally confused, man. "It's crazy," says Jon Foster, 36, an American who owns the popular Grey Area coffee shop in the gentrified Jordaan area of central Amsterdam. "It seems totally illogical to have a business that specializes in smoking and you ban tobacco." . . . Starting Tuesday, customers can still legally buy up to 5 grams of cannabis a day at a coffee shop and smoke it on the premises. But they cannot smoke a regular cigarette -- or mix the pot with tobacco, as many Europeans prefer -- without risk of being cited by Dutch health inspectors. "I will have to ask, 'What's in that joint?' " says Ludo Bossaert, 49, owner of the Paradox, another well-known shop. "What's the difference if there's a little bit of tobacco in there? It's going to make it pretty difficult to enforce." USA Today accuracy@usatoday.com (Jeffrey Stinson, USA TODAY) Netherlands Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-27-amsterdam-marijuana_N.htm http://tobacco.org/news/267767.html Cannabis is technically an illegal substance in the Netherlands, although you won't get arrested for buying or smoking it in a coffee shop. The Dutch have adopted a policy of "gedogen," or blind eye, to its sale and use since 1976. The government distinguished between so-called "soft" cannabis drugs and "hard" drugs such as heroin or cocaine. That's when coffee houses sprang up to sell and let people smoke. USA Today accuracy@usatoday.com (Jeffrey Stinson, USA TODAY) Netherlands Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/06/28/ap/international/d91ium180.txt http://tobacco.org/news/267757.html AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - This city's famed marijuana bars have weathered many challenges over the years and are still smoking. But now they face an unwelcome blast of fresh air: On July 1, the Netherlands will be one of the last European countries to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in compliance with EU law. The Health Ministry says the ban will apply to cafes that sell marijuana, known as coffee shops. But this being Holland, which for centuries has experimented with social liberalism, there's a loophole: The ban covers tobacco but not marijuana, which is technically illegal anyway. But that still leaves coffee shops and their customers in a bind. Dutch and other European marijuana users traditionally smoke pot in fat, cone-shaped joints mixed with tobacco. AP Netherlands Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT