Much to the frustration of Jesse, who has been battling alcohol addiction for 20 years.
BOOS is a program of BNNVARA, under the banner of NPO3, seeks an answer to this question from the socially responsible NS. Smoking and the sale of tobacco in train stations have been banned for two years now. According to the program makers, it was 'the social responsibility of the NS' to institute the ban, the carrier eagerly announced in all newspapers and news in 2020. Meanwhile, alcohol, another stimulant, is still widely available.
Much to the frustration of Jesse (38), who has been battling an alcohol addiction for 20 years and regularly gives in when he comes to a station while commuting. He asked the NS why tobacco is and alcohol is not banned, but it did not help. So the BOOS team called for him.
"Alcohol is something people enjoy and the train is the Bob'"
Jesse can't think of a logical answer and decides to ask the NS. The answer is striking. He is told that the NS has 'no influence' on the range of station shops. Stores are allowed to determine their own assortment. But wait. Hasn't the NS been able to do that with tobacco for two years?
Because Jesse gets the feeling of being sent from pillar to post, the program makers decide to ask on his behalf. They come into contact with spokesman Geert Koolen. 'Alcohol is something that people enjoy and the train is the Bob', says Geert. He doesn't really have an answer to the question whether the station should be a place to sell and consume alcohol.
Geert emphasizes that the NS looks at social trends when making policy. 'The smoking ban is a combination of legislation and regulations and a social trend,' says the spokesperson. 'We don't really hear about alcohol, so we're not really thinking about that yet.' The fact that alcohol is the biggest addiction in the Netherlands after smoking and medication is apparently for the BOOS editors not enough to meet the criteria of a societal trend.
