Three cheers for our Dutch friends

[bolivr]

From

http://www.theage.com.au/world/smoke-ban-o...1105-17he1.html

Smoke ban overruled

The Hague

November 6, 2010

The Netherlands has become the first European country to overturn an unpopular smoking ban imposed on the nation's bars and cafes two years ago.

The authorities are to amend legislation to allow smokers to light up again in small owner-operated bars, called pubs by the Dutch. Bowing to resistance and claims that the ban was driving small Dutch pubs out of business, an incoming coalition government has also cancelled 280 fines levied during a campaign of civil disobedience by smokers and bar-owners.

Good to see some sanity elsewhere in the world.

This reminds me; any developments on the Australian Cigar Fightback? I'm up for a little civil disobedience

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...mp;hl=fightback

[investandprosper]

Now if Hawaii would follow suit! I wish I could enjoy a cigar while enjoying a brew and watching a game here. For now I'm confined to my garage

[CBL]

That smoking ban was ridiculous to begin with, it was a ban to protect the employees from the second hand smoke, whether the employees needed protection or not wasn't an issue....

Very few small business owners obeyed this law as it meant some cigar bars I visit wouldn't allow us to smoke in them anymore.

It was a weird sight to see people smoking pot in a coffee shop knowing that if they mixed it with tobacco and smoked it inside, they'd be breaking the law.

Glad to see things turning around again.

[MIKA27]

Great post Mike, great news!

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Dare one hope other countries will follow the lead of The Netherlands?

[adic88]

We can smoke just about anywhere here in Malaysia. Only place we can't is shopping malls. Pubs, restaurants (smoking section), park, by the street, all fair game.

The Government does something different here to discourage smokers -- they tax us like mad. A pack of cigarettes (20s) is US$3.50, a Cohiba Robusto is US$40 per stick.

[ryans]

I've always liked the pragmatic approach of our government! It took a bit long but in the end we got there.

@Aizzudin - It's true that taxes on tabacco in Malaysia has increased over the years (I used to live in KL), but $3.50 for a 20 pack of cigarettes is still ridiculously cheap. In the Netherlands it sets you back at least 5 euros, or roughly $7.00 so double of that.

Luckily I'm not a cigarette smoker, but I do agree with you on the fact that the prices of cigars in Malaysia is very high.

[ZinZan]

The Government does something different here to discourage smokers -- they tax us like mad. A pack of cigarettes (20s) is US$3.50, a Cohiba Robusto is US$40 per stick.

Aiz, i think we still have one of the cheapest price of cigarettes, dollar to dollar. Only Indonesia and Thailand beats us in that department.

[CanuckSARTech]

Aiz, i think we still have one of the cheapest price of cigarettes, dollar to dollar. Only Indonesia and Thailand beats us in that department.

We're about the same price in Canada for cigars - a single CoRo is about $43 CDN after taxes (the Canadian dollar and the U.S. are pretty close to parity, with the CDN $ being worth about 97 cents U.S.).

However, we're about $10-something for a pack of name-brand smokes now. When I quit smoking, in August 2002, smokes were about $7.15 a pack, and they were only about $4 in the late 90's. It's all been a huge increase in taxes, to try and curb youth/teenage smoking. Except, it doesn't work worth a ****, and has led to a huge tobacco smuggling industry, especially through the First Nations reserves and the Quebec border region.

And, even with all these taxes, we can't smoke goddamned anywhere!!! If only the cigar bars/lounges/stores were left alone, but the anti-tobacco lobby is incredibly strong in North America, and they don't care to differentiate cigarettes from cigars.

[LeafLover]

I'm down for a fight here in California. Cigar rights for us all!

[thechenman]

We can smoke just about anywhere here in Malaysia. Only place we can't is shopping malls. Pubs, restaurants (smoking section), park, by the street, all fair game.

The Government does something different here to discourage smokers -- they tax us like mad. A pack of cigarettes (20s) is US$3.50, a Cohiba Robusto is US$40 per stick.

Wow...that's a damn good price for a pack of 20 cigarettes. My wife smokes cigarettes, much to my chagrin...wish she would take up cigars...anyway, here in NYC they are running $13 for a pack of 20 cigarettes. It simply astounds me.

[MontrealRon]

Let's hope the Dutch common sense starts to spread.

My wife is also a cigarette smoker;

it's hard to believe, but we spend more on her cigarettes than on my cigars!

[mazolaman]

I've long admired and enjoyed the Nederlanders capacity for common sense pragmatism.

Prohibition has never worked for anything,so far as I can see.