Following the organized system in Greece that bans the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors, Spain is being encouraged to adopt similar measures.

The Association of E-Tobacco Promoters and Entrepreneurs (UPEV) in Spain has called on the government to implement policies modeled on the Greek system to better limit minors’ access to these products.

“The organisation insists that the focus should be on controlling the sales channels, as the current system in Spain is inadequate and allows minors too easy access to vaping devices,” reads the UPEV statement.

According to the Spanish outlet infoestancos, “Greece has become a benchmark in Europe after implementing an integrated market control system. This model combines mandatory registration of all shops selling vaping, tobacco, or alcohol products with advanced digital age verification tools.”

In physical stores, vendors use applications connected to public databases that instantly verify whether a consumer meets the legal age. If the consumer is underage, the sale is automatically blocked. The system also provides clear visual cues: a green signal allows the purchase, while a red one denies it, leaving no room for seller interpretation.

UPEV warns that in Spain, e-cigarettes are still sold across numerous channels without proper age verification—from sweet shops and bazaars to supermarkets and flea markets. Minors can access these products with little restriction.

The situation has worsened since 2023, with the rise of single-use devices that have expanded availability and made access even easier.

Infoestancos adds that “the industry supports the need for regulation based on evidence and successful experiences within Europe. The objectives should be threefold: protecting minors, ensuring consumer safety, and providing a stable framework for legitimate businesses.”

For UPEV, the Greek model demonstrates that effective control is possible when priority is given to managing sales channels and implementing the right technological tools.