Belgium's railway company SNCB has announced that starting from January 1, smoking and vaping will be prohibited on all train stations throughout the country, including outdoor platforms. This measure will make the entire railway area smoke-free, promoting health, cleanliness, and clarity for passengers and staff.
To ensure a smooth implementation of the change, SNCB launched an awareness campaign in stations and on trains on Monday, December 19. The campaign will spread messages through posters, announcements, information screens, and various digital channels.
Protecting Children's Right to Grow Up in Good Health
Marc Michils, spokesperson for 'Generation Smoke-Free,' welcomed the measure, stating, "Our children have the right to grow up in good health, including without exposure to tobacco. As children see fewer and fewer people smoking, the absence of tobacco is becoming the new norm for them. Generation Smoke-Free welcomes this measure that brings us closer to the first generation without tobacco."
The general ban on smoking in stations is a political decision that SNCB and cancer associations support. The measure will apply to all 550 stations in the country, aiming to achieve three objectives: health, cleanliness, and clarity.
Widespread Support from Train Travellers
The smoking ban will protect passengers and railway staff from the harmful effects of tobacco and counteract copycat behavior, especially among young people and children using the platforms. The measure will also ensure more cleanliness by eliminating cigarette butts on platforms and tracks, which currently require complex logistics and involve high annual costs.
The uniform application of the law will provide clarity, as the smoking ban will apply to the entire railway area without distinguishing between covered and open-air platforms. France implemented a similar measure in 2017, followed by the Netherlands in 2020.
A survey revealed that 7 in 10 train travellers support tobacco-free platforms. Two pilot projects carried out under the Generation Smoke-Free project in Mechelen (November 2021) and Charleroi (May 2022) showed encouraging results, with the smoking ban being well-received and respected.
Staff Support and Enforcement
SNCB has set up a program for staff members who want to quit smoking, offering them the support they need to kick the habit since June 2021.
To enforce the ban, ashtrays will be removed from platforms, and prohibition signs will be placed at visible locations. The measure, introduced on May 15, 2022, by the 2018 amendment to the Railway Police Act, will impose fines on smokers according to the number of offenses: €50, €75, or €150.
Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "There are 14,000 victims of tobacco every year in Belgium, that should spur us into action. The initiative will ensure healthier air on the platforms and, above all, reduce the pressure for young people who have quit, or want to quit smoking."
