Glass overtake smoking room? That is 600 euros fine

Everyone must work smoking, says the smoking ban. The owner goes to court. 70 percent smoke of my porters. They think it is okay to take an occasional glass. "

Always he has been neatly with the rules. Immediately upon the introduction of the smoking ban aimed Jeroen van Broekhoven (38) a smoking room in his nightclub in Stadskanaal. All guests, including smokers, should feel at home with him. A beer should be in your cigarette.The porters pick up the stacked glasses on, to prevent accidents with shrapnel. On a busy evening, sometimes six times.

Nothing wrong, an inspector of the Food and Commodities Authority (NVWA) on November 2, 2014, the porter service sees at work in the cigar lounge. Van Broekhoven has to pay a fine of 600 euros, because work is banned in cigarette smoke. Completely unjustified, says the nightclub owner, who Wednesday in court trying to undo the fine.

unworkable
,, I've been like that since the opening of the smoking room. If it is full of empty glasses, you must remove. You do not give visitors the opportunity to stabbing another glass. Accidents I can not afford that. '' Van Broekhoven think that many of his colleagues quit after exactly the same method, but that they take for granted any fines.

If not evil Groningen, for whom this is a matter of principle. How he keeps his tent otherwise neat and calamities free? The proposal of the NVWA to keep glass from the smoking area, he dismisses as "unworkable". ,, An additional door at the entrance to the smoking area is too precious to me. Guests let not self be their drink, wanting a cigarette with a beer. And I also earn money on drinks, I have forty staff pay. ''

The other option, the smoking area clean when it is aired, after closing so, Van Broekhoven is too risky. He can not stand that the law does not allow the operator to address this dilemma in his own way. ,, Smokes 70 percent of my porters. They think it is okay to occasionally take the glass. ''

formally
The NVWA is relentless. ,, We enforce the smoking ban, '' said spokesman Tjitte Mastenbroek. ,, If our inspector suspects that the rules are broken, the pub owner receives a warning. If he finds that working in the smoking room, the trader will immediately receive a fine of 600 euros. ''

It is through such formal arrangement Koninklijke Horeca Netherlands has a hard head that Van Broekhoven get directly from the court. ,, He must of course abide by the law, but he also wants to create a safe environment for its staff and guests, '' said spokesman Saskia Deerenberg. ,, The legislature has thought of something which is especially for big nightlife is not feasible. As an entrepreneur, you can not move. ''

 By: Editors AD / Heleen Boex Photo: Corné Sparidaens