Alcohol and cigarette sales will now only be permitted with ID, as outlined in the bill for the protection of minors from tobacco and alcohol products, presented to the Cabinet by Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis and Deputy Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos.

The bill establishes a total ban on the sale of tobacco products, including heated or vaporized products, as well as alcohol. Violators will face strict penalties from the very first offense, leading to the closure of the business. In case of repeat offenses, a permanent shutdown will be imposed.

The aim of the bill is to protect minors from tobacco and alcohol products by introducing both a comprehensive ban and a stricter overall framework for their sale, distribution, and availability.

The legislative measures focus on creating an effective control mechanism to prevent minors from accessing alcohol. This includes making ID verification mandatory for sellers at all points of sale, imposing severe administrative penalties, re-criminalizing the sale of alcohol to minors, assigning a primary inspection role to the Hellenic Police (ELAS), and requiring the mandatory reporting of private events held in entertainment venues.

A robust monitoring system is also introduced to prevent minors from accessing tobacco and related products, specifically through:

– Mandatory ID checks by sellers at all points of sale and the imposition of strict administrative penalties for violations, ensuring a more comprehensive regulation of tobacco and related products.
– Establishing a mechanism for evaluating and monitoring compliance of tobacco and related products with the requirements and specifications of Law 4419/2016.
– Regulating the conditions for marketing electrically heated tobacco products and nicotine products without tobacco, completely banning their sale, distribution, and availability to minors, and imposing corresponding penalties.

Stricter Penalties

With the Ministry of Health’s proposed bill presented to the Cabinet:

– The sale of alcohol to minors will be upgraded from an administrative violation to a misdemeanor.
– Sellers will be explicitly required to verify the customer’s age by checking ID not only in restaurants and entertainment venues but also in kiosks and mini/supermarkets.
– Violators will face severe penalties from the first offense, including store closure and even permanent revocation of their business license in case of repeat violations.
– The Hellenic Police will take on a primary enforcement role, supported by the Municipal Police, the Coast Guard, and the National Transparency Authority.
– Minors will be prohibited from entering entertainment venues, and private events held in such venues must be officially reported to law enforcement authorities.

“Our goal is to ensure that alcoholic beverages are sold only with ID verification, as is the case abroad. The seller will be responsible, whether they are engaged in retail or serving in a restaurant, and the penalties will be strict,” clarified Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The bill also enforces a complete ban on selling tobacco products, heated or vaporized products, and electronic nicotine products to minors.

Additionally, the legislation includes the creation of a new special unit within the National Public Health Organization (EODY) to oversee the regulation of new tobacco and related products.