In The Netherlands smoking in cafe's, bars, pubs, public lounges etcetera has been banned completely as from July 1, 2008. Sure, one can smoke outside or in a totally separate "smoking closet", but that's not the purpose of going down to the pub: one really wants to socialize and smoke at the same time.

 

There seems to be a way out though for smoking shisha AKA hookah smoking. The Dutch smoking ban clearly refers to tobacco and tobacco containing mixtures only. This would exclude tobacco-free herbal molasses from the ban: there's not a molucule of tobacco to be found in for example Soex shisha molasses. I'm a bit careful though. Knowing Dutch legislators fairly well, I fear that they will sooner or later "repair their oversight", and ban all hookah smoking from public places, including bars. I don't trust Dutch politicians - I used to be one myself  (embarrassed grin)!