The new future government seems to agree on toughening regulations on tobacco consumption. Smoking on restaurant and cafe terraces should soon be banned. What would be the consequences for the Horeca industry?
If many points on taxation and pensions are still the subject of tension between the different parties, one point seems to bring everyone in agreement: that of going further to create a generation without tobacco.
On the terraces of restaurants, bars, cafes… Smoking in these places should soon be banned, contrary to what is provided for in the current plan put in place by the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke. This measure scares the hospitality industry, and for good reason. In 2011, the law banning smoking in workplaces as well as in restaurants and brasseries where food is served to consumers came into force. Did this ban have an impact on the hospitality industry at the time?
The National Union of Independents (SNI) surveyed 363 bistro operators just after the introduction of the law banning tobacco in cafes in 2011. In three-quarters of establishments, the number of customers fell by 27%. Consequence: in 71% of bistros, turnover fell by 19% on average.
-A fall in consumption
Still according to the SNI, this ban caused a significant increase in the number of bankruptcies. In one year, there were 8%. The Brussels Horeca Federation confirms that this ban did indeed have an impact: customers consumed less, stayed less long and tips fell.
The years following the smoking bans in restaurants were marked by a very marked decline in neighborhood bistros and cafes. On the other hand, this ban was beneficial for families with children who were reluctant to come to smoky rooms, as well as for establishment staff who did not smoke.
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