Recent raids in Belgium revealed that more than 70% of businesses were selling tobacco to minors in violation of the ban. The government is considering tougher penalties, including the closure of illegal shops, to meet a target of no new young people using cigarettes by 2040.
In a recent series of raids, more than 70 percent of Belgian businesses ignored The ban and sold tobacco to minors (under the age of 18), according to recent government data.
As of November 2019. Belgium has raised the age to buy tobacco products from 16 to 18. However, many retailers do not require young people to show their ID when selling.
In keeping with the goal of a “smoke-free generation,” Belgium plans to have no young people using cigarette products by 2040. As a result, the government is considering imposing harsher penalties, such as shutting down illegal shops.
According to Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, as many as 782 (71 percent) of the 1,100 inspections conducted this year have ignored the ban on selling cigarette goods to minors, based on data provided by the minister. These tests are carried out by minors. They act as “mystery consumers” trying to buy tobacco, vapes, cigarettes, and tobacco tar bags.
The violation rate varies in different parts of Belgium. Shops in Brussels had the lowest rate of violations, at just 53.5%. In Flanders, 68% of businesses were found to be in breach of the rules in 469 inspections, but in Wallonia, 76.5% failed in 226 inspections.
Els van Hoof urged the health secretary to continue using the arcane consumer control system. The minister’s cabinet responded by saying it was a “Very obvious measure”.
