Belgium postpones outdoor terrace smoking ban after legal objections
The planned ban on smoking and vaping on hospitality terraces, set for 1 January 2027, will be delayed following concerns raised by the Council of State.
The federal government’s plan to prohibit smoking and vaping on outdoor terraces of restaurants and cafés will not take effect on 1 January 2027 as originally scheduled. The Council of State, which reviews legislation before it is enacted, raised multiple objections, leading the health ministry to amend the proposal. Ministers indicated that the revision process will give hospitality operators, represented by Horeca Vlaanderen, sufficient time to comply with signage requirements.
The final implementation date remains uncertain and hinges on parliamentary approval of the revised measures. This restriction is one element of a wider tightening of Belgium’s tobacco control policy, which also includes bans on indoor smoking rooms and aims for a smoke-free generation by 2040. The hospitality sector has expressed concerns about potential negative economic impacts.
Why it matters
The delay affects public health goals and could impact Belgium’s hospitality businesses.
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