State Secretary Van Rijn strongly opposed drink in the shop

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen decided to allow last year in three places called mixing formulas. Rijnstraat, Jan Evertsenstraat and some shops Osdorpplein it is permitted to pour a glass of wine or organize a tasting.

Good for business, good for the customer and completely in line with the wishes of particular coalition parties D66 and VVD to cut down the number of lines. It emphatically was a pilot, also can be read on the website of the municipality."Research is what effect his departure from certain provisions of the Licensing and Catering Act."

Law
The idea was however initiated by the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), who wants to experiment in dozens of places with mixing formulas. "The Licensing and Horacawet dates from 1935 and is in dire need of replacement," explains a spokesman for the VNG out. "If local authorities in response to the pilot to make recommendations on how the law can be changed, which is very useful."

But Secretary of State Martin van Rijn (PvdA) feels there for nothing and brandishes the Code. "The law does not provide for a possibility for experimentation. Tolerating violations of these prohibitions leads to a violation of the law. "

Probation
Van Rijn asks the VNG 'strongly' municipalities to blow the whistle and immediately stop the trial. A premature reaction, 'says the VNG, which will not give heed the call of Van Rijn.

The State Secretary also addressed to municipalities like Amsterdam. "I assume that municipalities take their legal responsibilities regarding the supervision and enforcement of the Licensing and Catering Act and will not participate in a pilot that does not fit within the confines of the law."

A spokesman for the municipality said that the college is studying the letter of Van Rijn and is coming soon with a response. In each case the test is not canceled offhand.

Blind drunk
Ellen Jacobs, director of MKB Amsterdam, thinks Van Rijn misses the point. "The law he is referring to, is outdated. Van Rijn would force should change the law rather than customers and entrepreneurs to behave according to the dictates an outdated law. "

VVD leader Marja Ruigrok to understand why Van Rijn trial will give no chance. "Let's first see how many people really drunk from the hairdresser or the bookstore come rolling. I suspect that very will be well. "

(By: Roelf Jan Duin) / Parool.nl/© Catharina Glogowski