Banning users from certain sections of the city is another tool used by the police to maintain public order. The mayor has powers to issue an order whereby drug users and dealers can be banned from designated areas, for periods of 8 hours and 14 days. Amsterdam has so-called coffee shops, which sell small quantities of soft drugs. The policy of the city council is to freeze the number of these coffee shops. Since 1 January 1997 de-facto tolerated status has been granted to recognise, well functioning coffee shops.
Standards are tough.
It is forbidden to deal in hard-drugs, and no soft drugs may be sold to persons younger than 18 years. There is a ban on advertising, and the maximum amount for a transaction is 5 grams per person. The coffee shops may not stock more than 500 grams of soft drugs, and are prohibited from causing a public nuisance. Any breach of these rules can lead to closure. In 1997 a total of 321 coffee shops were granted de facto tolerated status.