Belgium postpones terrace smoking ban

People in Belgium will be able to smoke at restaurant terraces for a little while longer after the government announced it would be delaying its outdoor ban planned for early 2027. The federal government planned to prohibit smoking outside cafés and eateries as a public health measure from Jan. 1 , spearheaded by social democrat Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. But Belgium’s Council of State, its supreme administrative court, "has asked us to adjust some measures, and we are working on this," a statement from Vandenbroucke’s cabinet, shared with local media outlet VRT, said.