Groningen's Smoke-Free Bus Stop Initiative Sparks Debate

The province of Groningen is introducing new regulations to reduce smoking in public spaces. In the coming weeks, all covered bus stops in the area will be marked with stickers and tiles indicating they are smoke-free zones.

The initiative has already been implemented in some municipalities like Westerkwartier and Westerwolde. The city of Groningen, which previously introduced the country's first smoke-free zone around the entrance of the University Medical Center Groningen, is next in line. 

The smoke-free vision

One-fifth of the population over 18 in the Netherlands is smoking, with a goal to reduce this to 5% by 2040, a report by Statistics Netherlands shows. The country has focused its efforts on reducing smoking in the presence of children by establishing sports fields, school grounds and playgrounds as smoke-free zones. Expanding the regulations to bus stops has opened new debates. The Glass Room talked with several smokers and non-smokers to find out more about people’s responses to this change. 

“It is better to have regulations, as it would be otherwise chaotic. Regulations are especially important for children and people with lung problems,” says Denise Visser who quit smoking a long time ago. “This change spreads awareness and encourages people to quit”. 

“Even though I’m a smoker myself, rules are necessary, as there are people out there with different health problems,” says Femke Lettinga who is a student in Groningen. 

It only changes the location, but it doesn’t reduce my consumption

The restriction on bus shelters aims to reduce smoking and promote healthier public spaces. For smokers, however, quitting is not that easy. “It is sure unpleasant when someone else smokes in your face and you can smell it. But since I am an active smoker, I happen to be with a cigarette quite often,” says Juliana Ivanova who tried to quit smoking several times. “For this reason, the restriction changes only the location, but it doesn’t reduce my consumption.”

“I don't think it really works because if I'm standing here and people are walking over there, they still have to smell the smoke. So maybe the same with the bus stops. If you stand on the edge of the bus stop or two feet next to it, it doesn't make sense.” says Mees van Klinken who is also a regular smoker. 

Higher prices, lower consumption

As the prices of tobacco products increase, smokers are rethinking their smoking habits and how often they should smoke because it’s not as affordable anymore. “Although I know that smoking is not good for my health, I have now started to think about quitting since it has become too expensive to smoke,” says Lettinga. 

“Yeah, it's about health, but also the finances because it's getting more expensive. They stopped selling tobacco products in supermarkets, so you have to go to special shops.” van Klinken tells The Glass Room.