The Greek government has introduced draft legislation that imposes criminal penalties on businesses caught selling alcohol, e-cigarettes, and synthetic nicotine products to minors. Spearheaded jointly by the ministries of Citizen Protection, Justice, and Health, the legal overhaul responds directly to incidents in Athens where eight high school students required hospitalization after consuming alcohol at an entertainment venue.
Five Key Regulatory Changes in the Draft Bill
The reform replaces administrative fines with criminal liability for merchants who supply restricted substances to underage consumers. The legislation outlines several direct enforcement measures:
- Mandatory ID Verification: Retailers and venue operators must verify government identification at points of sale before completing transactions.
- Stricter Venue Oversight: Private parties and events hosted in commercial venues must notify police and submit to the same regulatory standards as public gatherings.
- Expanded Tobacco Restrictions: Bans on sales to minors now cover all modern nicotine formats, including open vape systems, pre-filled pods, and synthetic nicotine products.
- Severe Penalties for Repeat Offenders: Businesses caught repeatedly violating age limits face immediate temporary closures and permanent revocation of their operating licenses.
- Dedicated EODY Monitoring Unit: A newly created division within the National Public Health Organization (EODY) will lead joint inspection sweeps with national and municipal police.
Commenting on the tightening of the legal framework, Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis stated, “Everything is now becoming stricter for the protection of minors, with increased enforcement.”
The draft bill also addresses previous regulatory rollbacks by reversing policies that permitted alcohol consumption by minors at private events, establishing unified enforcement across all commercial and hospitality sectors in Greece.
