New "Church" Offers Way Around Dutch Cafe Smoking Ban

On July 1, a smoking ban went into effect for cafes, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands (though it did not impact smoking of marijuana in specially licensed coffee shops). (AFP July 1). Now however some bar owners seem to be finding a way around the tobacco ban. Dutch News reported yesterday that several dozen bars hae joined a new religious movement-- the One and Universal Smokers Church of God. The church believes in the trinity of smoke, fire and ash. Worshippers who join the church get a membership card entitling them to honor their god by smoking inside the bar. Promoters of the movement say church members' "religious practice" is protected by the Dutch Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. [Thanks to Paul Birchenough for the lead.]v