1,500 pubs flouted the smoking ban in 2013
A quarter of the pubs checked by inspectors last year was found to be violating the smoking ban. In all 1,500 pubs flouted the ban. Punters found to be smoking will have to pay a 160 euro fine, while publicans face a fine of 475 euros.
The public health ministry's Paul Van den Meersche says that because of the number of complaints targeted checks are possible: "Last year 1,000 complaints were filed. The complaints came from members of the public as well as other publicans."
"When we carry out an inspection we can immediately smell whether or not anyone has been smoking. The pubs that are caught out are the cowboys of the sector! They are jeopardising the health of their punters. Often these are pubs known to the police because of noise disturbance or brawling."
Last year some 1,000 punters were caught smoking in pubs. The previous year the figure was only 800. The increase comes thanks to an increased number of checks.