Membership card for coffee shops abolished

Students who like to light up a joint every now and then should be relieved. The membership card for coffee shops, also known as the ‘wietpas’, will be set aside. That shows the new coalition agreement, presented by Rutte and Samsom yesterday. From now on you will need an extract from the population register, together with an identity card or a residence permit to enter coffee shops.

The new coalition agreement is bad news for the alcohol drinkers among us. From January 2014 the excise duty on beer, wine, sherry and port will be increased with 14 percent. The excise duty on liquor rises with 5 percent. Tobacco will also be more expensive. From March 2014 a pack of 19 cigarettes and a bump shag of 40 grams will be 9 cents more expensive.

With increasing these duties the new cabinet expects to win 200 million euro.