Since 2009, it has already been illegal to smoke in buildings that are publicly accessible such as cafes and restaurants. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the federal government plans to extend that smoking ban to some specific outdoor places. The government is primarily targeting public places where children are numerous.
At the beginning of this legislature, the federal government committed itself to working towards a smoke-free generation. This means that children and young people born from 2019 can grow up smoke-free and thus never start smoking themselves. “But if we really want a smoke-free generation in our country, we must also ensure that children and young people see fewer people smoking,” says Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit)
Specifically, the government therefore wants to introduce a smoking ban in amusement parks, zoos, petting zoos and playgrounds starting in 2025. In addition, the government is also looking at whether a smoking ban can be introduced at the entrance to hospitals and schools, “but that still requires some research and discussion,” Vandenbroucke said.
The government is also examining by April 2023 what restrictions are possible on sports grounds and activities of youth organizations, such as youth movements. It is also consulting with sports federations that organize professional sports competition in stadiums to ban smoking, just like the Pro League in soccer.
The federal government also wants tobacco products to be able to be sold in fewer places. Thus, it also wants to ban sales behind the bar in pubs and at festivals (temporary sales points) from Jan. 1, 2025. In this way, it wants to prevent non-smokers from being spontaneously tempted to purchase cigarettes and smokers from thinking twice about buying.
The federal government also reached an agreement to end the sale of tobacco in food stores larger than 400 square meters by 2028. Earlier, the government had decided that tobacco vending machines would be banned everywhere except supermarkets. That ban would take effect 12 months after publication in the Official Gazette, presumably sometime in 2024.
Finally, it was decided to make tobacco more expensive. How much and how that should be addressed will be discussed by the government early next year. The plan now is to work with the states to knock off a national anti-tobacco plan.
Is there any reason why we don’t flip it entirely? Prohibit smoking everywhere but introduce some zones where it is allowed? I do indeed really love the people in the trainstation blowing their garbage into my face!
Good. If they would ban it in all pedestrian areas it would be fantastic.
Title:
>in several places frequented by children and young people
Text:
>in amusement parks, zoos, petting zoos and playgrounds
Ah, yes, places where children go to every day or almost. Okay for playgrounds, but… amusement parks, zoos and petting zoos are not places I expect children to go to more than a few times a year.
When will it be banned at bus stops, on train platforms, in school neighborhoods, …, that children (and plenty other young people) pass through every day?
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>the government is also looking at whether a smoking ban can be introduced at the entrance to hospitals and schools
I can see this turning into ‘no smoking within 10 meters’ and the practical situation not changing anyhow. Hopefully they get a good idea?
Should be banned on all public places
Yes, no smoking in Kindergarten…
Kan dat echt niet sneller?
If you truly cared about protecting children, the best place to start implementing a ban is the home. That’s where they spend most of their time, and where the people live who they look up to the most.
8 comments
Since 2009, it has already been illegal to smoke in buildings that are publicly accessible such as cafes and restaurants. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the federal government plans to extend that smoking ban to some specific outdoor places. The government is primarily targeting public places where children are numerous.
At the beginning of this legislature, the federal government committed itself to working towards a smoke-free generation. This means that children and young people born from 2019 can grow up smoke-free and thus never start smoking themselves. “But if we really want a smoke-free generation in our country, we must also ensure that children and young people see fewer people smoking,” says Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit)
Specifically, the government therefore wants to introduce a smoking ban in amusement parks, zoos, petting zoos and playgrounds starting in 2025. In addition, the government is also looking at whether a smoking ban can be introduced at the entrance to hospitals and schools, “but that still requires some research and discussion,” Vandenbroucke said.
The government is also examining by April 2023 what restrictions are possible on sports grounds and activities of youth organizations, such as youth movements. It is also consulting with sports federations that organize professional sports competition in stadiums to ban smoking, just like the Pro League in soccer.
The federal government also wants tobacco products to be able to be sold in fewer places. Thus, it also wants to ban sales behind the bar in pubs and at festivals (temporary sales points) from Jan. 1, 2025. In this way, it wants to prevent non-smokers from being spontaneously tempted to purchase cigarettes and smokers from thinking twice about buying.
The federal government also reached an agreement to end the sale of tobacco in food stores larger than 400 square meters by 2028. Earlier, the government had decided that tobacco vending machines would be banned everywhere except supermarkets. That ban would take effect 12 months after publication in the Official Gazette, presumably sometime in 2024.
Finally, it was decided to make tobacco more expensive. How much and how that should be addressed will be discussed by the government early next year. The plan now is to work with the states to knock off a national anti-tobacco plan.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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Nice, finally. But ofc they wait until 2025 because muh votes.
Old HLN article before anyone comes with the argument of budget: https://www.hln.be/binnenland/rokers-kosten-jaarlijks-11-miljard-euro~a16e5224/
Is there any reason why we don’t flip it entirely? Prohibit smoking everywhere but introduce some zones where it is allowed? I do indeed really love the people in the trainstation blowing their garbage into my face!
Good. If they would ban it in all pedestrian areas it would be fantastic.
Title:
>in several places frequented by children and young people
Text:
>in amusement parks, zoos, petting zoos and playgrounds
Ah, yes, places where children go to every day or almost. Okay for playgrounds, but… amusement parks, zoos and petting zoos are not places I expect children to go to more than a few times a year.
When will it be banned at bus stops, on train platforms, in school neighborhoods, …, that children (and plenty other young people) pass through every day?
​
>the government is also looking at whether a smoking ban can be introduced at the entrance to hospitals and schools
I can see this turning into ‘no smoking within 10 meters’ and the practical situation not changing anyhow. Hopefully they get a good idea?
Should be banned on all public places
Yes, no smoking in Kindergarten…
Kan dat echt niet sneller?
If you truly cared about protecting children, the best place to start implementing a ban is the home. That’s where they spend most of their time, and where the people live who they look up to the most.