The Hellenic Ministry of Health has introduced a legislative proposal to ban all flavored vapes, with the exception of tobacco and menthol flavors. The measure is part of a broader effort to restrict minors’ access to tobacco and alcohol products in Greece.
A recent student-led study presented at the 14th National Student Conference “Education for a World Without Smoking” surveyed 229 high school students in Thessaloniki. The findings showed that 63% of sophomores, 52% of juniors, and 59% of seniors had tried smoking. Alarmingly, 34% of sophomores reported having smoked before the age of 13. Among student smokers, vapes were the most commonly used product, with peer and family influence identified as contributing factors.
The survey further revealed that 55% of junior smokers consume more than 10 cigarettes daily, compared to 30% of sophomores and 35% of seniors. Professor Panagiotis Behrakis, Scientific Director of the Smoking and Lung Cancer Research Center and founder of the Smoke Free Greece initiative, marketing strategies targeting youth are a major concern.
“If we don’t start speaking openly about the electronic cigarette, we’ve made a mistake. Vaping has a particularity—it precisely targets children. No one will ever convince me that with flavors like vanilla, watermelon, cherry, and mint, are aimed at the adult smoker. [Vaping] aims to attract children with colors, flavors, and aromas, to lead them into nicotine use. If we do not raise our voice to stop the unrestricted, unhindered promotion of electronic cigarettes to children, society will have made a mistake,” he stressed.
The Greek government’s upcoming legislative proposal also includes:
-A total ban on the sale of tobacco, vape, and alcohol products to minors;
-Classifying the offering or sale of alcohol products to minors as a misdemeanor;
-Creation of a special unit within the National Public Health Organization to regulate new tobacco products;
-Strengthened market controls.
The new bill was recently presented to the cabinet by Greece’s Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis and Deputy Minister of Health Dimitris Vartzopoulos, who oversees issues related to Mental Health and Addictions. The bill is expected to be submitted to the Hellenic Parliament for a vote potentially as early as May. Twelve countries, led by the Netherlands, are already pushing the European Commission to revise its Tobacco Products Directive to include these newer nicotine products.
