New tools target alcohol and tobacco sales
Greece has unveiled three digital tools designed to stop shops selling alcohol and tobacco to minors, following last summer’s tighter rules. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the authorities now have stronger means to enforce the law and protect young people.
The law introduced heavy fines for businesses that sell restricted products to minors, reaching up to €10,000 for serious breaches. Shops also risk losing their licences temporarily after a first offence and permanently if they repeatedly ignore the rules. Individuals can face further penalties, including jail time, when they sell to minors or allow children to work in unsafe environments.
The first new tool is an online register where businesses must report private events involving minors before they take place. This will cover celebrations such as proms or graduation parties and give inspectors a clear view of planned activities.
The second tool is a national register of alcohol and tobacco retailers that lists every product each shop declares for sale. Authorities say it will create a full map of sellers, helping inspectors carry out targeted checks across the country.
The third tool introduces secure age verification for shoppers buying alcohol or tobacco in physical shops. It builds on the system used by the KidsWallet application and aims to protect users’ data during every check. For online purchases, buyers will scan a QR code on a retailer’s website to confirm their age before completing the order.
Mitsotakis said the technology makes verification simple and places Greece among Europe’s leaders in digital identification. He added that similar tools could soon support decisions on minors’ access to social media platforms.
