Tobacco vending machines will be banned across Belgium from Saturday 9 December, except in supermarkets, meaning it will no longer be possible to buy cigarettes at bars.
From this weekend, it will be more difficult for smokers to find cigarettes on a night out, as establishments must remove their infamous tobacco vending machines. Only supermarkets will now be authorised to sell tobacco products through these machines.
Public health officials will start checking for compliance next week, but they will mainly check that vending machines are no longer in operation. This means the machines can technically still be in place, but must not be functional. "Initially, the focus will be on raising awareness," a spokesperson for the Public Health Service said.
The decision was taken last year, but the hospitality industry was given until this weekend to take measures. In the upcoming months, offenders will only receive a warning; fines will follow next year.
This new measure is yet another step in Belgium's fight against tobacco, and follows other steps such as rules on tobacco advertising being tightened in recent years. Public Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke hopes this action will enforce the ban on selling tobacco to minors.
The ban is currently upheld through 'age tokens' that vendors should only sell to adult customers, though this isn't always the case in practice, as minors appear to get hold of them easily.
In supermarkets, the vending machines can remain in place as they are almost completely out of sight and an age check is required at the checkout.
