Dutch smoking ban

A tobacco smoking ban came into force Tuesday in cafes, bars and restaurants throughout the Netherlands.

While patrons are no longer allowed to
light up cigarettes, they can still smoke marijuana in the country's
specially licensed "coffee" shops as long as their joints
contain no tobacco.

Many regular marijuana users prefer
their weed rolled with tobacco and, as joint content is hardly the
easiest regulation to police, some coffee shops have opted to switch
their business to over-the-counter sales only, or to erect specially
designated smoking areas.

As the law seeks to protect people from
second-hand smoke inhalation, waiters are no longer allowed to serve
their customers a cup of coffee inside the smoking room, so the
owners put in a vending machine for nibbles and drinks.