Belgium's recreational nitrous oxide ban has not stopped widespread use, organised criminal distribution or hazardous litter, with exploding canisters causing millions of euros in waste-management damage.
Brussels will cut off ordinary consumers from nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. It is used in whipped cream canisters, but young people abuse it as a party drug. They ride it with inflatable balloons because it induces an immediate state of euphoria and laughter, is inexpensive and does not leave bad breath or a morning hangover. In addition, discarded pressure containers cause devastating explosions in waste incinerators.