The Netherlands bans cigar lounges: the facts
According to the law, all cigar lounges in the Netherlands are to close on 01.01.2022. Rumors and false reports are circulating on the Internet. For example, the topic "Standard packaging in Holland from 01.01.2022" is one such false report. Here are the facts so far.
Initial situation: This post on Instagram is saddening
On 25.09.21, a post by Casa Maastricht on Instagram was shocking:
Fact 1: Statement from Cubacigar Benelux
Cubacigar Benelux is the official importer of Cuban cigars and cigarillos in the Benelux countries. Here is the statement:
"Regarding plain packaging: this was a proposal from the government to change the current law, as cigars and cigarillos are excluded from the plain packaging law. But at the moment the law has not yet been changed, so 1.1.2022 will not be possible. But the future for tobacco products in the Netherlands looks bleak (plain packaging), it will probably only be a matter of time.
On the subject of cigar lounges being banned: The new law that comes into force from January 1, 2022 regarding cigar lounges is not directly aimed at the few cigar lounges, but rather at the large commercial buildings that have smoking areas. Unfortunately, cigar lounges are also affected by this change. They will therefore also have to close.
In Maastricht, the lounge of La Casa del Habano is subordinate to a so-called Horeca lounge and it has been given a control. It has not been allowed to have a smoking lounge in such horeca lounges for a long time, so they have already closed.
What is a Horeca Lounge? A Horeca license is required in Maastricht to serve drinks and snacks. Not all regions in the Netherlands have this requirement. After an inspection by the authorities, they were forced to close the lounge. Because with a Horeca license, smoking is not allowed inside."
Fact 2: La Casa del Habano Maastricht produces explanatory video
The Casa has received a lot of requests after their post on INSTA on 25.09.21. They are currently producing a video explaining everything. The video will be available on the internet. We will provide the link as soon as the video is online.
Netherlands, for decades coffee shops in which the underage citizen can legally get stoned to the point of stupefaction.... and cigar lounges have to close because "the state" is worried about its citizens. Obviously, long-time heavy users of these coffee shops have joined the government and are now going all militant anti-smoker by curtailing the rights of free citizens. The operators of the lounges should get together and launch a nice fat lawsuit for damages, because there was already a smoking culture when the people behind such decisions were still filling their own diapers..... I'm going up.....
Well, I understand you very well. I can only shake my head too.... PLUMPS!!! ... oops, now it's hit me on the floor.
The fun is being taken away more and more ... 3G, then 2G, lounges closed. Unfortunately, boycotting doesn't affect the operators. So we continue on the hamster wheel.
It's totally uncool what's going on. I can only shake my head.