The Dutch smoking ban in

perspective:

Proposal for an international comparative study of smoking
bans in bars and restaurants



Willem Bantema (PhD) University of Groningen
wbantema@gmail.com

Compliance & non-compliance in European bars




0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
The Netherlands Italy Engeland Norway
59
88
98
97
41
12
2
3
Compliance
Non-compliance
Background


- Compliance motivations of Dutch bar owners

- Effectiveness of smoking bans



















A comparison of smoking bans


Why?

What?

How?










Components of the comparison

Law in the books

Law in context

Law in action
Law in the books (1)

Smoking rooms or not?

Exceptions in the law?

Enforcement









Law in the books (2)
Who is fined?






Stage of self-regulation or not?

Country Owner Smoker

The Netherlands 600-4800 euro X
England Max. 3150 euro Max. 60 euro
Ireland Max. 3000 euro Max. 3000 euro
France 135 euro 65 euro

Law in action (1)

Country Bars Restaurants

Ireland 6 4
UK 10 9
Sweden 12 10
Italy 13 10
France 21 12
Germany 49 17
Belgium 79 20
Hungary * 79 42
The Netherlands 87 75


Eurobarometer (2009) smoking at last visit

Law in action (2)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
v 2008 w 2008 v 2009 z 2009 n 2009 w 2009 v 2010 z 2010 n 2010 w2010 v 2011 n 2011 v 2012 n 2012 v2013 n 2013 v2014
Percentage compliance with the smoking ban in bars (no smoke))
Law in context (1)



Country Bars Restaurants

Italy 94 95
Sweden 83 87
Ireland 80 85
UK 73 86
France 67 82
Hungary * 62 82
Belgium 54 82
Germany 45 68
The Netherlands 44 66
Eurobarometer (2008) Support for smoking bans

Law in context (2)
How the exception of the smoking ban turns out
in practice (example)

The 70 squared metres rule doesnt solve the
problems. For example my neighbours bar is
smaller than 70 squared meters and they are
allowed to smoke, while we are not. There is
totally no logic in this. I know there is 70
centilitre in a bottle of wine, but why 70 squared
metres instead of 100, 120 or 200?





Law in context (3)
Only fines for bar owners, how does it turn
out in practice (example)

I think its awful that bar owners are fined for
violating the smoking ban! That would be the
same as fining the railway company when I
smoke on a train. Its an inequality I experience
as truly unpleasant

Law in context (4)

Law in context (5)
Enforcement activities (first 3 months)




Country

Bars Restaurants
The Netherlands 750 2506
Ireland 4800 2291
Scotland 6291 3142
Law in context (6)

Most of the bar owners are not particularly
clever, but what they do know is when civil
servants go home. Then they think, the civil
servant is sleeping, now I can put the astray
back on table and this happens especially
after midnight

Law in context (7)
Motives surrounding self-regulation

Close or vast political majority

How much smokers / Importance of health

Other tobacco regulation

Pub culture/smoking culture?









Summary of ideas
International comparison of smoking bans in bars
and restaurants.

Based on 3 components

Based on all data sources / all possible countries

Based on existing material (retrospective)

Difficulties
Language

Difficulties with finding data

Organizational problems
Appeal
Suggestions?

Interest?