Today is a good day for small bars in the Netherlands:
From today smokers in Holland will be allowed to light up in small owner-operated bars that are less than 753.5 square feet in size and have no other staff.
The 280 cases currently going through court for pubs allowing people to smoke inside will be dropped.
UKIP MEP for the North West Nuttall said he was “very pleased that the Netherlands authority has allowed common sense to prevail” and relax the ban.
“We know the smoking ban has had a serious detrimental effect on pubs,” he said. “It is absolutely bonkers.
“The way the ban came in was very underhand.
“I hope the Government will take what has happened in Holland on board. I hope it will happen here.
“We should have the option for smoking rooms in the UK, it should be down to the licensee.”
You know what to do.
Jacob Grier is a freelance writer, bartender, cocktail consultant, and magician in Portland, Oregon. He writes, eats, and drinks a lot. His articles have appeared in the print or online editions of The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Reason, The Oregonian, and other publications.
