Netherlands Slow to Ban Smoking

By Christian Last updated Sep 30, 2017

Dutch smokers are feeling put upon. A new law is due to come into effect next summer which will drastically restrict smoking in restaurants and bars. An estimated 30 percent of Dutch adults still smoke, and they’re none too happy with the latest developments.

As the restrictions have increased, so have groups fighting for smokers rights. Groups such as Against the Smoking Ban, Forces Smokers Club, Smokers Revolution and The Party Against Nannyism.

The Party Against Nannyism’s founder Kees Uitenbroek brought a petition to parliament this week with nearly 100,000 signatures calling for the new restrictions to be scrapped. Mr Uitenbroek says he resents what he sees as government meddling.

“I think everyone is threatened by this kind of government because the government is more and more interfering in our private lives. I smoke two or three packages a day. It’s not good for you, I know. I take the risk and it’s something I do. And once I’m in a bar with the owner of a bar who smokes the same as I do, what use is there in making a smoking ban.”

Secondhand smoke

But the new restrictions proposed by the government are widely supported in parliament, and with a few minor changes are likely to become law. Cisca Joldersma of the Christian Democrat party explains why she feels such restrictions on smoking are necessary.

“For my party it’s very important that people who suffer from secondhand smoke now have the possibility to enter a restaurant, to enter a bar and they’re not bothered by smoke. I think this is a good compromise that we find in the Netherlands.”

But even this Dutch compromise, which aims at protecting employees from secondhand smoke, will not go as far as other European countries have gone. The new law stipulates that restaurants and bars can only allow smoking in rooms separated from the rest of the establishment. But the Dutch law also says staff will not be allowed to enter the smoking areas.

Left behind

Once considered a forerunner in smoking regulation, the Netherlands is now in danger of being left behind, even with the new smoking restrictions. Dr Elizabeth van Gennip, the director of the Centre for Expertise for Tobacco Control (STIVORO), says the Neherlands has been left behind by nearly all its neighbours.

“If you look at the countries all around us, then you see in Ireland, it was the first in 2004. But also England, Scotland, in Norway, Sweden, Italy, you see France is coming up 1 January 2008. In Germany they’re starting, and in Spain. In all these countries you see this ban on smoking in the hospitality sector. So actually if you look at the map it’s actually astonishing that the Netherlands is so slow in this respect.”

Roll another

The Netherlands may be slow, but next summer’s new restrictions will help bring this country into line with its neighbours. Much to the chagrin of people like Kees Uitenbroek of the Party Against Nannyism. After presenting his petition in the parliament building, where he was not allowed to smoke, we headed for the exit. Before we were out the door, Mr Uitenbroek was rolling a cigarette.

Originally written By political editor John Tyler