Smoking ban commences

01 July 2008 - 01H32

Dutch cafes, restaurants and coffee shops are bracing themselves for a feared exodus of patrons when a public smoking ban for the hospitality industry enters into force on Tuesday. (Report: P. Hall)

Coffee shop owners must find alternatives to tobacco for their clients - like using other herbs instead, or a vaporiseur -some just hope to sell more hash brownies

But others fear the ban will scare off their patrons, especially in smaller bars that are too little to have a tobacco smokers facility, authorised by the law.

400 small cafe owners are filing a complaint against the gouvernment as they feel discrimnated against.