THE FIGHT AGAINST SMOKING

the smoking ban: Netherlands

From 2008-01-07 smoking will be banned in restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs. Seperated smoking areas will still be allowed, as long no drinks or food are served here. Even the counters in "coffeeshops", cafes that sell cannabis, must be smoke-free. Other public buildings and the public transport have been smoke-free since the 1st of January, 2004. Government plans for smoke-free hospitality sector (in Dutch).

the burden:

30% of the Netherlands' 16 million population are smokers. Every year at least 5,800 women in the Netherlands die as a direct result of smoking. Which is the equivalent to 15 deaths per day.

latest on the ban:

As of 1 January 2004 cigarettes were banned from most public places including railway stations, trains, toilets and offices.

Government has warned hotels, bars and restaurants they would face further measures unless they adopted their own controls on smoking.

The cost of cigarettes in Holland:

Packet of cigarettes is now 4.10 euro.

anti-smoking campaign video