Belgian MPs can no longer drink alcohol at work

As of last week, federal members of parliament in Belgium are no longer allowed to consume alcohol in the Chamber's bar.

The measure was decided as part of the reform of the status of parliamentarians, RTL reports, and was supported by the five majority parties.

From now on, only soft drinks, coffee and tea will be available in the bar, putting an end to a well-established tradition - small glasses of alcoholic drinks at the end of long budget evenings.

The measure was initiated by prime minister Bart De Wever (NVA), who said that “as in any company, there is no reason to serve alcohol in the workplace”.

The stance caused a stir, even within his own party. MP and Middelkerke mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker offered De Wever a bottle of local beer as a symbolic gesture to show his disagreement with the ban.

“Jean-Marie Dedecker and I usually get along well, but on the issue of alcohol in parliament, we have always been in deep disagreement,” De Wever later wrote on Instagram.

“Today, I won, and so I had to endure the protests of the bear of Middelkerke.”