Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Dutch cafe owners rally against smoking ban
AFP - 1 hour 22 minutes ago
THE HAGUE (AFP) - - Dutch cafe owners on Saturday took to the streets of The Hague in protest at a smoking ban they say has seen business drop by up to a third.
Organisers said 5,000 people took part although police estimates put the number at around 1,500.
"A cigarette is part of cafe culture," said Wiel Maessen, secretary of the Save the Small Cafe Owners' group which organised the rally.
"The cafes (in the Netherlands) are really struggling. Soon we will find ourselves having to ask for social welfare," added Marina Bosma from the western city of Leiden in a speech.
Protesters brandished banners denouncing the "dictatorship" of Dutch Health Minister Ab Klink.
The cafe owners want the ban, which came into force on July 1, scrapped arguing they have neither the space nor the money to build specially-ventilated smoking areas.
"In my cafe, I get through two kegs of beer and three crates of cold drinks a week. That's just about enough to pay the rent and the gas bill. I can't deprive myself of customers that smoke," said Aldith Hunkar, another cafe owner.
Some opposition lawmakers have lent their support to the cafe owners' complaints.
Extreme-right politicians have criticised the absence of any financial compensation for implementing the new regulations while liberals say the government is distorting the competition between large cafes who can install a smoking area and the small ones who cannot.
For the past few weeks, many cafe owners have decided to deliberately break the law and put the ashtrays back on their tables. Some pool money to pay the fines of fellow cafe owners.
Klink recently called on prosecutors to do more and step up their pursuit of cafe owners in breach of the law.
Those who continue to flout the smoking ban faces fines of up to 18,500 euros (23,000 dollars) or even temporary closure.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
PR actress Roselyn Sanchez marries Eric WinterAP - 1 hour 24 minutes ago
Live Earth concert in Mumbai cancelled: organisersAFP - 1 hour 44 minutes ago
'Christmas Story' fans celebrate film's 25th yearAP - 2 hours 32 minutes ago
TV Lookout: highlights for Nov. 30-Dec. 6AP - Saturday, November 29
Strike threat hangs over La Scala gala openingAFP - Saturday, November 29
Enlarge Photo
File photo shows people smoking in a restricted area in a bar in Amsterdam. Dutch cafe owners on Saturday took to the streets of The Hague in protest at a smoking ban they say has seen business drop by up to a third.
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
World's oldest person dies at 115 years
Love handles increase death risk: study
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
Saudi king says 75 dollar oil price 'fair'
Bomber strikes Shiite mosque after Iraq approves US pact
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular