From January 1, 2027, Smoking or Vaping Will No Longer Be Allowed on Belgian Terraces, The Belgian Government Has Decided. Smoking Areas must also close. The Interest Group for the Hospitality Industry Speaks of A “Dark Day for Hospitality”.
In Addition to the Terraces Themselves, Smoking Will also be prohibited in the immediate vicinity from 2027. Public Smoking Areas Such As Those in Airports must have disappeared by then. Cigar Clubs and Shisha Bars Must also Close Their Doors.
Duration the Formation Talks Last Year, it was already agreed that such a ban would be introduced, but there was no concrete date yet.
The Measures are intended to prevent Children and Adults from Involuntarily Inhalation Cigarette Smoke, Says Belgian Minister of Public Health Frank Vandenbroucke. Hey also wants to “avoid people bee tempted to light a cigarette”.
The Belgian Hospitality sector has reacted negatively to the announcement. However, there was some relief that the ban would not start soner. The Chairman of Interest Group Horeca Vlaanderen Calls It “A Dark Day for the Freedom of Choice and the Hospitality of the Hospitality sector”.
Accordance to recent research, 12.8 percent of Belgians Smoke Daily. There has been a downward trend in recent years. In The Netherlands, The Figure, Almost Identical is: in 2024, 12.3 percent of the population smoked, also with a downward trend, accordance to the Trimbos Institute. In Both Countries, The Number of People Who Vape is Increasing.