Dutch govt intends to exempt small bars from smoking ban

[The Straight Story]

Dutch govt intends to exempt small bars from smoking ban

The Dutch government said Wednesday it intended to exempt bars smaller than 70 square metres (753 square feet), with no staff other than the owner, from a smoking ban introduced in July 2008.

"The exemption applies only for small bars with no personnel," a health ministry statement said.
...
In the meantime, "enforcement of the smoking ban in small bars with no personnel will not be a priority, and fines already issued will be withdrawn," said the statement.

The Netherlands banned smoking in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry as from July 1, 2008 to protect staff from the dangers of passive smoking.

...
Earlier this year, statistics from the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA), a government body, showed that about 41 percent of Dutch bars and discos were transgressing the law.

http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/dutch-news/dutch-govt-intends-to-exempt-small-bars-from-smoking-ban_107901.html

41% transgressing the stupid bans. Bans don't work, but they sure make some people feel good.

[REP]

1. The. Single. Most. Important. Issue. EVER.

Or is it Happy Meals?

[The Straight Story]

2. I dunno, I can multitask - plus the real issue is freedom, I figured most people could figure that

out though by looking at the core values that are being affected.

[REP]

3. Not me - I'm a Midwesterner living in California. I'm too damn dumb.

Freedom, huh? Geez. I smoke and I didn't know freedom was as stake. I just thought there were some places I had to smoke outside. :cry: life is hard!!

[The Straight Story]

4. Freedom as in - your body, your choice

No one forces ANYONE to go into a bar. It is not like a hospital, grocery store, etc where people have to go for necessities. Freedom of association, freedom of choice.

Is "your body, your choice" only good for ONE thing? If so, how much do people really believe in the principal of it?

Start to give it away, piecemeal, and you end up with freedom being eroded.

Some people are just fine with it - because they never really believed in REAL choice, just some choice. Which I expect from RW folks who don't understand the idea of principals and standing by them no matter what.

Go ahead and give them away on the small scale, it will catch up to you and others. Just don't expect me to be there standing by you when you wonder where it all went after selling it down the river bit by bit.