Cancer fund calls for smoke-free stadiums and zoos

Cancer fund Kom op tegen Kanker has called for semi-public open spaces – like train platforms, football stadiums and amusement parks – to be made smoke-free areas. The measure is necessary to protect people more against passive smoking, the breathing in of other people’s smoke, it says.

The charity bases its recommendations on a report by the University of Leuven, in which researchers examined whether it is legally possible to better protect passive smokers.

The stadiums of Anderlecht in Brussels and Club Brugge and are already smoke-free and Kom op tegen Kanker is asking others clubs to follow their example. In a later phase, other open-air sporting events should become smoke-free as well.

The charity also wants to see Belgian national railway company SNCB include a ban on smoking on platforms in its rules, which would apply to anyone buying a train ticket. Its action plan also calls on amusement parks, zoos and other public places where children come to adapt their policies.

Parties can agree on a smoking ban in a contract or regulations, even if a prohibition is not legally imposed. It will promote these contractual smoking bans in the coming year.

Photo: Ingimage