Greece tightens controls on minors’ access
Greece is introducing stricter oversight of minors’ access to tobacco, vaping products and alcohol, as well as their presence in nightlife venues, through two new digital platforms, alto.gov.gr and events.gov.gr.
The system, developed by the Ministry of Digital Governance, creates a unified registry of businesses selling regulated products. More than 88,000 points of sale and over 79,000 businesses have already been registered, requiring them to declare their details and comply with legal conditions. Each registered business receives a QR code, allowing authorities to carry out real-time checks.
Under the new framework, only registered entities are permitted to sell tobacco, alcohol and vaping products, with violations leading to penalties or suspension of activity. The inclusion of vaping products reflects growing use among younger age groups and brings them under the same regulatory system.
At the same time, the events.gov.gr platform introduces monitoring of private events involving minors in nightlife venues. Organisers and venue operators must register events digitally, generating a time-stamped agreement with QR verification. Within six weeks of launch, nearly 150 events and over 180 businesses have been recorded.
Authorities say the measures aim to replace fragmented enforcement with a centralized, data-driven system, strengthening the protection of minors and enabling more targeted inspections across the country.
Photo: Ministry of Digital Governance
