Bravo to the Dutch... a fresh breath of freedom for smokers

We missed, over the last few days, news that the smoking ban has been partially overturned by the Dutch.

The Dutch Government, you see, differs from ours.

They promised a review, reviewed it as they said they would, and then decided it was better to let people have a ciggie with a pint again.

So, bravo to the Dutch.

And up yours, Nick Clegg - anti-smoking, hypocritical smoker.

Thanks go to the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign for bringing this to our attention - we're sure they won't mind us replicating their news release here:

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MP hails Dutch decision to amend smoking ban

Brian Binley, MP for Northampton South and a leading supporter of the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign, has welcomed the decision by the Dutch Government to amend the smoking ban in Holland and has called again on the Coalition Government to review the ban in England.

Binley said: "The Dutch Government held their promise and reviewed the smoking ban two years after its implementation. The British Government must change their approach to this issue and review the matter as the previous Government said that it would. I am delighted by the decision in Holland to allow smokers back into the pub and it is a good sign for the mounting campaign in Britain."

You can comment HERE.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday that "The Netherlands has become the first European country to overturn an unpopular smoking ban imposed on the nation’s bars and cafés two years ago".

According to the Daily Mail, "The partial over-turning of the blanket ban, which was introduced in 2008, is a huge victory for for smokers' rights campaigners who had argued that the blanket ban was driving small bar owners out of business".

See Dutch smoking ban reversed for small pubs (Daily Telegraph) and U-turn on smoking ban as Holland allows lighting up in 2000 bars and pubs (Daily Mail).

Simon Clark, director of the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign, said, "The decision by the new government in Holland to amend the smoking ban introduced two years ago is very welcome, not least because it highlights the intransigence of politicians in the UK.

"The success of the Dutch campaign against the smoking ban was the result of an alliance between consumers and small bar owners whose businesses were under threat. Hence the importance of the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign which is trying to create a similar alliance in the UK."

Clark called for owners of pubs and bars in the UK to contact the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign as a matter of urgency if they want the Government to review or amend the smoking ban.

Meanwhile, if you want to know how the UK smoking bans compare with the rest of Europe, click HERE for some examples. It won't surprise you to know that the UK and Ireland are almost alone in enforcing a comprehensive ban with no allowance for smoking in any enclosed public space.