Greek government proposes ban on flavored tobacco products, may face resistance

Key points of focus

1. The Greek government is planning to pass a law banning flavored alternative tobacco products, but may face multiple obstacles. 

2. Legally implementing a comprehensive ban is not easy, as it requires approval from the European Commission and could take up to 6 months. 

3. Some critics argue that a total ban could result in 400,000 e-cigarette users turning to the "unregulated" black market.

According to a report by Euractiv on April 23, 2025, the conservative Greek government is preparing a bill to ban all flavored alternative tobacco products, leaving only natural tobacco and mint flavors.

Greece usually does not support stricter regulations on alternative tobacco products and opposes categorizing them as traditional tobacco.

However, political reasons for implementing stricter measures are increasing. This ban is part of a bill aimed at restricting minors' access to alcohol and tobacco products, following incidents where young people have fainted in nightclubs due to excessive drinking.

The proposed legislation will ban products with flavors such as chocolate, cookies, watermelon, and whiskey from the market, as these flavors are particularly popular among teenagers. This will have an impact on an industry that employs around 10,000 people, including 2,000 professional retailers.

According to sources, the bill is currently in the "final stage of internal discussions," but it is still unclear whether the ban on condiments will survive in the final text.

From a legal standpoint, implementing a comprehensive ban is not easy as it requires approval from the European Commission and could potentially take up to six months.

However, from a practical standpoint, it may be more meaningful for Greece to take strict measures, as previous measures have proven to be ineffective. According to the latest European public opinion survey, over 35% of the population still smokes.

Greek analysts believe that the law is a step in the right direction, mainly because it increases efforts to crackdown on underage access to alcohol and tobacco products. For example, it gives authorities the power to shut down stores or clubs selling tobacco or alcohol to minors, and reclassifies such actions as criminal offenses, shifting from administrative fines to criminal penalties.

However, some government officials (outside of the health department) and some individuals in the tobacco industry have questioned why a flavor ban is included in a bill that is ostensibly aimed at protecting minors.

A industry insider stated, "A complete ban is not reasonable, as it would also punish adult consumers." They explained that in other countries, such as the UK, flavored products are still sold on the market and are promoted as tools to help adult smokers quit traditional tobacco.

At the same time, the e-cigarette product traders association warned in a letter to the government that a total ban would cause 400,000 e-cigarette users to turn to an "uncontrollable" black market.

Seven EU countries, including Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Hungary, have implemented a ban on flavored tobacco products.