Ban on smoking is not respected in Brussels

A hundred cafes were checked by the FPS Public Health in Brussels to see whether they were respecting the ban on smoking inside the cafes.

The inspection showed that less than half of the cafes respected the ban on smoking. Fines had to be imposed on all those who did not respect the regulation.

The checks were carried out on the night of 10-11 July in Brussels.

Paul Van den Meersche, commissioner, who was interviewed by De Standaard stated that the regulation is respected more in Flanders and Wallonia than in Brussels.

He added: “In these areas, the owners are severely punished, with fines and even temporary closures, but in Brussels, it is not as severe,”.