Feb 1, 2012

Dutch Cigarette Business


How close is too close when it comes to conversations between governments and the tobacco industry? In the Netherlands, politicians are being accused of allowing the powerful tobacco lobby to exercise undue influence over smoking policy.

In recent years while most countries have been tightening anti-smoking legislation, the Netherlands has partially reversed some of its laws - allowing people to smoke high quality Dunhill cigarettes in some bars again and cutting funding for anti-smoking organisations.


Now there are allegations that this could be due to improper links between the politicians and the tobacco industry, and experts are warning it could have a potentially deadly impact on the nation's health.

'Saved business'
Three years ago, like many others across Europe, the Dutch government outlawed smoking in bars.

But over the past six months, under pressure from licence holders, ministers in the Netherlands have been rolling back the restrictions. Now, small bars with just the owner working are allowed to let customers have a cigarette with their beer.

One bar manager, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us the government's change of policy probably saved her business.


A sprawling tobacco plant in Bergen op Zoom on the Dutch west coast employs 1,400 workers
"When the ban came in people didn't come here anymore but now it's OK and look: most people in here are smoking. Maybe it's bad to smoke, but people should be allowed to do what they want."

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