The Brussels Parliament is set to ban outdoor heaters throughout the Belgian capital from January next year, BX1 has reported.
To placate restaurant and bar owners worried about the potential loss in clientele, the capital's Government has introduced a pilot scheme which involves handing out hundreds of blankets to restaurants and bars across Brussels.
"By handing out blankets we offer a transition period [before January] and suggest that there are other ways of staying warm in winter than with heaters," said Brussels Alderman of Economic Affairs Fabian Maingain. He added: "The heaters are voracious energy consumers, expensive for owners, and bad for the environment."
Although their high cost has already led numerous restaurant and bar owners to voluntarily turn off their outdoor heaters. Many are sceptical as to whether their prohibition will have a beneficial impact on Brussels' hospitality sector.
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"If we get completely get rid of heaters across Brussels, there are easily going to be 20-30% of establishments which are going to have to close down simply because they won't be able to compensate for the fall in income from clients," said restaurant owner Dimitry Blockerye.
Many customers, however, appear ambivalent about the imminent change in legislation, which mirrors measures already taken in France.
"We're OK with it," smiled one outdoor diner. "If you just have another drink, you'll feel warm."
