The “customer” was not a customer: the tattooist was convicted

In Belgium, the association Tatouage Belgique wants to ensure that the rules of the trade are respected. A tattoo artist learned this the hard way. The courts condemned her after a visit from a rather unusual client.

At the end of May 2025, the Liège company court sentenced a mobile tattoo artist. She was using a van to set up at events. At a Christmas market, a “friendly but curious customer” approached her. He asked several questions, including about the mandatory cooling-off period, health risks and the proximity of a stand selling alcoholic beverages. As it turned out, the tattoo artist was prepared to tattoo directly without written consent (which is forbidden in Belgium). She had obviously consumed some alcohol (beer was present in the van) and only refused to tattoo drunk people if they were “unable to fit into the van”. Furthermore, her studio was not fixed.

Association trap

The famous customer wasn't just any customer. It wasn't even someone wanting to get a tattoo. It was a bailiff commissioned by the “Tatouage Belgique” association of piercing and tattooing professionals. With this action, and the legal proceedings that followed, they wanted to highlight the rules of hygiene and law that must be respected... In particular, there is a requirement for written consent, a cooling-off period, authorized types of furniture and information on health risks. The plaintiffs also criticize the lack of control by the authorities, despite the existence of a license to practice the profession.

Penalty imposed

As for the unscrupulous tattoo artist, the Liège court has forbidden her to continue her activity until she complies with the law, on pain of a fine. She must also pay the court costs. In reaching her decision, the acting president of the Liège company court based her ruling on the Royal Decree of November 25, 2005 on piercing and tattooing activities, which was drawn up in view of the health risks associated with these activities.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source : La Dernière Heure – Photo : © Unsplash)