Smoking and vaping on and near terraces will be banned from 1 January 2027, as will the use of public smoking rooms, such as in bars, airports and shisha bars. That decided the federal government on Friday, reports 24brussels.
The coalition agreement mandated an expansion of the smoking ban to include terraces, a move opposed by the hospitality sector. The council of ministers approved the measure on Friday, delaying its implementation from the originally planned start date of 1 January 2026 to allow businesses time to adapt.
The ban prohibits smoking and vaping on and near public terraces, along with a prohibition on public smoking rooms found in airports, hospitality venues, and establishments catering specifically to smokers like cigar clubs and shisha bars.
“With these measures, we prevent children and adults from involuntarily inhaling harmful cigarette smoke.”
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke emphasized the focus on public health, stating, “Protecting people’s health and creating a healthy environment for everyone is what matters to us. With these measures, we prevent children and adults from involuntarily inhaling harmful cigarette smoke and ensure that people are not tempted to light up a cigarette.”
Catering establishments will be required to display clear signage regarding the ban and to engage with customers who smoke. They will face penalties for inadequate signage, ignoring smoking violations, or providing items that may encourage smoking, such as ashtrays.
According to the most recent Sciensano Health Survey, 17.6 percent of the Belgian population currently smokes, with 12.8 percent smoking daily. These figures represent a decline from 2018, when 19.4 percent of the population reported smoking, with 15.4 percent being daily smokers. However, the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to rise, particularly among younger demographics; in 2023-2024, 21.7 percent of the population reported having tried an e-cigarette at some point.