Belgium will ban smoking and vaping on all outdoor hospitality terraces starting January 1, 2027. Approved by the Council of Ministers in September 2025, this regulation targets outdoor dining spaces and a 10-meter perimeter around them to limit secondhand exposure and curb youth nicotine initiation.
Hospitality Sector Raises Economic and Practical Concerns
The upcoming ban has sparked concern among Belgian hospitality (Horeca) operators, who anticipate a drop in customer traffic. Michel De Triest, manager of the Poechenelle Kelder restaurant in Brussels, expects a negative financial impact. “There will be an economic impact similar to what we experienced when we started banning smoking indoors,” De Triest warned.
Other business owners question the feasibility of enforcing a 10-meter buffer zone in dense urban areas. Jean-Philippe Bosman, manager of the Le Roy d’Espagne brasserie in Brussels, noted the practical difficulties. “You have terraces every 10 meters. Someone will have to explain to me how you plan to put this rule into practice,” Bosman said.
Compliance Rules and Customer Liability
Under the new rules, establishments must install clear warning signage, remove all outdoor ashtrays, and intervene if a customer lights up. If businesses meet these obligations, the legal liability shifts to the offending customer. Violators face fines expected to align with current tobacco penalties, which range from €208 to €8,000.
Local municipalities retain the authority to grant temporary exemptions for specific outdoor events, such as Christmas markets and festivals.
- Read more: Spain Approves Draft Law Banning Smoking and Vaping on Terraces, Beaches, and Work Vehicles
Health Advocates Support the Shift
Health specialists defend the policy as a necessary step toward changing social habits. Nora Mellard of the Foundation Against Cancer clarified the intent of the law. “It is not the smokers we are chasing from the terraces, it is the smoke,” Mellard explained. “The terrace is also a place where people who smoke tend to do so mechanically. This is a way to make people more aware of every cigarette.”
This terrace ban follows other restrictive measures in Belgium, including the 2024 e-liquid tax and the 2025 public display ban. The policy positions Belgium as one of Europe’s strictest regulators, contrasting with neighboring France, which still permits vaping on open outdoor terraces.
