The Federal Parliament has approved a bill tabled by the Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) that tightens the rules regarding the sale of tobacco and alcohol. Belgium’s federal, regional and language community government wish to dissuade people from smoking and drinking.
The new bill is part of the inter-federal (federal, regional, language community) strategy regarding alcohol and tobacco. Currently there are no rules determining where tobacco products can be sold.
Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco are currently available at a host of retail outlets including newsagents, grocery stores, supermarkets, night shops, petrol stations and even on market stalls. There are a total of 20,000 points of sale for tobacco products in Belgium.
The new bill will ensure that this number is greatly reduced. From 1 April 2025 the sale of tobacco will be banned at temporary points of sale such as market stalls and stalls at music festivals. Furthermore, the sale of tobacco products will also be banned in food stores with a surface area of 400 m² or more.
Ban of the display of tobacco products
In addition to the measures mentioned above, retailers that are still allowed to sell tobacco products will be obliged to ask anyone that looks under 25 for their ID if they wish to buy tobacco products.
The new bill also includes measures regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages. Young people aged between 16 and 18 will only be allowed to buy beer. The sale of alcoholic beverages will be banned in hospitals and at motorway service stations during the night. Retailers that sell tobacco products will no longer be able to put them on display. This rule also applies to e-cigarettes.
The sanctions for tobacco companies that breach the ban on advertising will become stiffer. Once the measures in the bill come into force tobacco companies that breach the ban on advertising and promotion will risk a temporary ban on selling their products.
The new rules will come into force from 1 April next year.