30 September 2008

AMSTERDAM -- The Food and Consumer Product Safety Authourity (VWA) held a series of additional inspections at cafes and restaurants in Groningen and Tilburg. The authourity says most violations of the new smoking ban were made by cafe owners in these two cities.

In Groningen, three cafe owners were fined and twenty were warned. Seven entrepreneurs were cautioned in Tilburg.

The VWA says the smoking ban, which began on 1 July, is being ignored by 20 percent of cafe owners, and beginning on Wednesday their inspectors will be stricter.

Cafe owners will no longer be cautioned but will immediately be fined between EUR 300 and 2,400.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]