Shops larger than 400 square meters are not even allowed to sell smoking products at all. “We looked to make the store smaller, but that is not possible,” says someone in a shop in Lo. From today, cigarettes are not available anywhere in the village.
Some like the new legislation: “Smoking is not healthy, so I don’t mind that they have to continue looking for cigarettes. Maybe they will stop?”, A resident says. Others find the idea far -fetched: “It is a little exaggerated. There are still people who smoke even though they know it is unhealthy.”
A supermarket in Rumbeke has been very creative with the new regulations. Just next to the entrance to the supermarket, they have built a new small entrance where customers can buy cigarettes.