Diest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium’s government has banned smoking on outdoor terraces. Politicians Maurits Vande Reyde and Rick Brans oppose the ban and have launched a petition for support. They fear it will affect businesses and push smokers to sidewalks. They plan to present their petition to influential local politician Jeroen Overmeer.
The government has banned smoking on outdoor terraces. 2 local politicians, Maurits Vande Reyde and Rick Brans, are against the ban. They started a petition to fight it. They say the government did not consult restaurant owners before making this rule.
Vande Reyde mentioned that similar bans have resulted in fewer customers in other countries. He fears this will happen in Belgium, too. Many people like to smoke while enjoying a drink outside, without that, they might not return.
How will the smoking ban on outdoor terraces impact Belgium’s hospitality industry?
Vande Reyde thinks that banning smoking outside does not make sense. He believes it will just push people to smoke on sidewalks or in nearby areas. This could bother pedestrians and residents. He sees this as a problem for both businesses and the public.
The Open Diest petition wants more support to change the government’s decision. Many places in Europe are making anti-smoking rules stricter. Vande Reyde mentioned that restaurant and bar owners are worried about losing money because of the ban.
Vande Reyde says,
“A smoking ban is logical indoors, but not at all outdoors. People will just smoke on the sidewalk or in front of the houses. A ban only shifts the problem.”
Maurits Vande Reyde and Rick Brans are visiting restaurants and bars in Diest to get support for their petition. So far, every business they approached has signed it. People in the hospitality industry say that terraces are important for smokers.
They think banning smoking there will push customers away instead of helping them quit. The councillors believe their petition shows that many in the industry are concerned and hope it will influence the government.
Overmeer is an alderman in Diest and also works for Deputy Prime Minister Jan Jambon, which gives him a lot of influence. Vande Reyde believes this is a chance to share local concerns with the government. He hopes the petition will persuade Overmeer to support the hospitality industry and oppose the smoking ban. Vande Reyde said,
“Fortunately, it is not too late,”
and he is optimistic that their efforts will make the government reconsider the ban before it starts.
“I hope this petition can encourage him to defend the interests of the local hospitality industry,”
Concludes Vande Reyde.
