Belgium Approves European Restrictions on Smoking in Outdoor Cafes

Brussels – On Tuesday, European member states, including Belgium, voted in favor of recommendations aimed at establishing smoke-free zones across the European Union. This initiative includes plans to extend protections against smoking to outdoor areas of restaurants and cafés.

While these recommendations are not legally binding—since the responsibility for smoking regulations lies with individual member states—the vote signals a potential shift in policy that could be embraced by the 27 countries in the future.

The European Commission proposed this measure to further combat smoking, as approximately 24 percent of Europeans currently smoke. The proposal garnered significant backing among member states, with only Germany and Greece opting to abstain from the vote.

By incorporating outdoor terraces of hospitality venues, these recommendations surpass existing measures that will take effect in Belgium on January 1. At that time, displaying tobacco products in stores will be banned, and smoke-free zones will be expanded around schools and hospitals, though terraces will not be included.

Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke expressed his approval of the new European-level recommendations. He noted that the proposal related to terraces aims to protect individuals from exposure to tobacco and emerging products, without necessarily advocating for a complete ban.

Date: March 12, 2024


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