Netherlands - legislation to abolish smoking ban for small cafes/bars with no staff..

July 6, 2010 - In our news brief entitled, Netherlands - bars defy two-year old smoking ban.., we reported the centre-right liberal VVD, which won parliamentary elections on June 9, wants bars with no staff to determine their own smoking policies.

Now we find the new 31-strong Liberal MP grouping is planning to introduce its own legislation to abolish the smoking ban for small cafes and bars. The anti-Islam PVV and Socialist party back the proposal, meaning it can count on the support of 71 out of 150 MPs.

'The smoking ban was introduced because Europe wants to protect workers against smoke. But you do not have to protect bar owners if they have no staff,' MP Halbe Zijlstra said.

Ten days ago, the ban on smoking in small bars was reinstated after a court ruling.

Reference: Liberal MPs act to scrap smoking ban in small bars, DutchNews.nl, 6/28/2010.

Netherlands - related news briefs:
Netherlands - bars defy two-year old smoking ban..;
Netherlands - small bars can continue to ignore smoking ban..;
Dutch government will change law to keep bars smoke free..;
Netherlands - lifted smoking ban for bars with no employees..;
Holland - smoking ban temporarily halted for smaller cafes run by their owners alone..;
Netherlands - spot checks on smoking in small cafes suspended temporarily..;
Dutch bar owners without staff when victory against smoking ban..;
Netherlands - Marijuana /Tobacco Cigarettes - Confusion..;
Netherlands - small bars/cafes with no staff could be exempt from smoking ban..;
Court spares small Dutch cafe over smoking ban..;
Netherlands - 1st court case for flouting smoking ban..;
Netherlands - ban on smoking in bars and restaurants NOT enforced..; Netherlands - ban on smoking in bars and restaurants NOT enforced..; Netherlands the smoking ban must be enforced - Ab Klink, Health Minister...;
Congratulations are in order: Netherlands, Romania & Alberta...
(Holland, Dutch)