Nearly 71% of checks on tobacco sales to minors in Belgium reveal violations, according to alarming figures. Faced with this observation, stricter sanctions, such as the temporary closure of offending businesses, are now being considered.
Many traders were caught selling tobacco to minors last year and this year the figures are just as dramatic, Het Nieuwsblad, Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Belang van Limburg reported on Tuesday. They cite the figures from the Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit), requested by CD&V MP Els Van Hoof.
In nearly 71% of the checks carried out last summer, or 782 of 1,100 checks, traders did not respect the ban. They were controlled through “mystery shoppers,” often students who appeared to be minors. Nearly two out of three traders were therefore in violation. In Wallonia, 76.5% of sellers did not respect the ban, and in Flanders the proportion was 68%.
The continued use of mystery buyers to carry out checks is therefore obvious, confirms Minister Vandenbroucke’s office. Until now, violations only led to warnings, but soon a business may be temporarily closed for non-compliance with the ban on the sale of tobacco to minors. This is a provision that has been legally possible since this year.
tobacco sale of tobacco offense minor mystery buyer
Belgium
