Position of the Coffeeshopbond

We advocate local tailoring: the I-criterion should apply where it demonstrably reduces nuisance. Rigid national enforcement without regard for local context does more harm than good — it moves turnover to a market without an age limit, without product information and without supervision.

• Room for the local triangle to calibrate enforcement to the actual situation, rather than national uniformity.
• Periodic independent evaluation of the effects on nuisance, street dealing and public health — with comparable measurement agreements between municipalities.
• Clear and timely communication to consumers and operators when policy changes, so operators do not bear the enforcement risk of a policy shift.
• Workable checks: no registration duties that founder on privacy, and clarity on which documents suffice as proof of residence.

The I-criterion touches the core of the tolerance policy: combining a legal front door with manageable public order. We see more effect in professionalisation, certification and regulation of the chain than in closing the door to part of the customers. The experience from the closed coffeeshop chain experiment should explicitly be taken into account.