Smoke-free environments

HOTREC acknowledges the European Commission’s publication of the revised Council recommendation on smoke-free environments and supports the goal of better protecting people across the EU from exposure to second-hand smoke, as well as encouraging smokers to quit.  

However, we question whether expanding its scope and coverage to include outdoor spaces of hospitality venues – such as terraces of restaurants, hotels, and cafés – will effectively achieve this health objective. Instead, it would shift smoking to alternative locations, potentially causing further disruption to local communities. 

While the European Commission deemed an impact assessment unnecessary, we believe that the social and economic repercussions of such a ban on the tourism and hospitality sector must be thoroughly evaluated before adoption.