The coffee shops are required to comply with a set of conditions known as the 'AHOJ-G criteria': no advertising (A), no sales of hard drugs (H), no nuisance (O), no admission to coffee shops for minors (under 18) (J), and no sales of large quantities (more than 5 grams) per transaction (G). The maximum trading stock is 500 grams, but municipalities can set a lower maximum if they wish. Depending on the specific problem, some municipalities have added a number of extra conditions to the AHOJ-G criteria in the form of a covenant ('no parking outside coffee shops', 'coffee shops must close at 10.30 p.m.', etc.). Local policy with regard to coffee shops is left up to the local authorities, and is discussed between the police, the public prosecutor and the mayor (tripartite consultations). In 1996 the Public Prosecutions Department issued a new set of guidelines that now serve as the basis for these tripartite consultations. Greater attention is paid to compliance with the AHOJ-G criteria under the new guidelines. It was also agreed in 1996 that sales of alcohol should not be associated with sales of soft drugs. Since the start of 1997, the police, municipalities, the public prosecutor and other interested organizations have been able to address any questions or requests for information about local drug policy in general and coffee shop policy in particular to the Support and Information Centre for Drugs and Safety (SIDV).

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