PRESS RELEASE FROM CHECKPOINT

Terneuzen, April 18th 2008

Checkpoint is going to start with a badge-system for visitors of the coffeeshop. Visitors will only be admitted to the shop when they can show their customer card.

Last week Checkpoint gradually started introducing the system. First the Dutch-speaking visitors will be entered into the system, and next the French-speaking. The complete implementation of the system is expected to take a few months.

The system guarantees visitors do not buy more than the 5 grams they are allowed to buy in Checkpoint each day. The system also prevents minors from entering the shop. The management expects that the system will reduce the number of visitors as some will object to getting registered. It’s the extra threshold. The last few months there have been less visitors at checkpoint than in the same period last year anyway. The visitor count dropped about 5%.

The real goal of the system, however, is to influence the behaviour of the visitors in the proper direction. The badge-system is to be tied to a set of houserules aimed at discouraging unwanted behaviour.

This way Checkpoint tries to contribute to tackling the root cause of the problem. They aim at reducing the lack of sanitation, parking- and trafficnuisance, and disposal of rubbish in the streets. Last year these annoyances inspired the city council’s decision to move the two coffeeshops to the perimeter of the city.

The application form for the customer card, the supporting houserules and the privacyrules are added to this pressrelease (in dutch).

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