Dutch cabinet wants smoking ban at children’s playgrounds

The Dutch cabinet wants to ban smoking at children’s playgrounds and make clear that smoking is not acceptable where children play and spend time outdoors, Health Minister Sophie Hermans said on Friday.

The proposed ban would extend an existing smoking ban on school grounds to playgrounds. Hermans said the government had also reviewed other places where restrictions might be introduced. She said children should not be exposed to smoking in places where they play and spend time outside.

The minister said many petting farms already have smoking bans, but the cabinet wants to make the restriction national. The report did not give a timetable for the proposed ban or details of how it would be enforced.