Officers within the metropolis of Amsterdam are to introduce a ban on smoking hashish in public areas to sort out ‘nuisances’ within the well-known Crimson Gentle District.
The ban on smoking on the road within the outdated centre of Amsterdam is anticipated to come back into pressure in Might and is a part of town’s efforts to deal with the damaging results of ‘mass tourism’ within the historic district.
The Netherlands is thought for its tolerant drug coverage, the place hashish is offered brazenly in coffeeshops and prostitution is authorized. Nonetheless, in recent times, metropolis officers have taken steps to mitigate the influence of tourism within the capital.
In 2014, a former mayor tried, unsuccessfully, to ban the hashish coffeeshops within the Crimson Gentle District. Since then quite a lot of proposals on the topic have been put ahead, with the federal government growing tax on lodge rooms and short-term leases.
The brand new smoking ban is a part of quite a lot of modifications geared toward bettering the standard of life for residents of the historic quarter of Amsterdam.
Town has additionally tightened restrictions on the sale of alcohol after 4pm from Thursday to Sunday and from April, will restrict the opening hours of sure companies.
Cafes, eating places and prostitution institutions with catering providers can open till 2am on weekends, versus the present opening occasions of 3-4am, and companies devoted to prostitution will now be open till 3am fairly than 6am.
As well as, the municipality has launched a ‘window of time’ for institutions serving alcohol, with a ban on entry after 1am and closure of terraces on the similar time.
The Metropolis Council can also be exploring the opportunity of banning smoking on the terraces of coffeeshops sooner or later.
In an official assertion, town council stated: “Residents of the outdated metropolis centre are structurally and excessively disturbed by crowds and nuisances brought on by mass tourism and substance abuse in public house.
“This behaviour comes on the expense of residents’ evening relaxation and the standard of life and security of your entire neighbourhood.”
This text initially appeared on Cannareporter and is reprinted right here with permission.