Patrons at Belgian restaurants and cafes will retain the ability to smoke on outdoor terraces after the federal government delayed its planned outdoor smoking prohibition. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke confirmed the postponement after the Council of State, Belgium's highest administrative court, instructed officials to revise elements of the public health initiative.
Council of State Requests Adjustments
The federal government initially designed the measure to bar smoking on terraces adjoining food and beverage establishments to protect public health. However, the proposal triggered pushback from the Belgian hospitality sector, which raised practical concerns regarding enforcement and customer retention.
"The Council of State asked us to adjust certain measures, and we are working on this," said Vandenbroucke’s office in an official statement. Officials added that the delay provides hospitality establishments sufficient time to adjust their operations before any nationwide rules take effect.
National Targets and European Comparisons
The outdoor policy forms one component of Belgium's strategy to create a tobacco-free generation by 2040. Over the past year, Belgian authorities restricted indoor smoking at airports and banned flavored vapes. Data from the Belgian Foundation Against Cancer indicates that roughly 25% of the population smokes, with 19% consuming tobacco daily.
Other European countries are advancing their own public tobacco curbs with mixed reception:
- France: Prohibits smoking on public beaches, in public parks, and near school zones.
- Spain: Approved draft legislation extending smoking bans to restaurant terraces and e-cigarettes, facing resistance from hospitality owners.
- United Kingdom: Progressing legislation to phase out commercial tobacco sales for anyone born after 2008.
The Belgian government has not established a revised timeline for introducing the adjusted text to parliament, where it requires approval before entering into force.
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