Real-Life Idiocracy – Greece Bans Only Nicotine-Free E-Liquids
We’ve seen countries ban nicotine-infused e-liquids while still allowing the sale and use of nicotine-free ones, but Greece recently became the first country in the world to ban nicotine-free e-juice but not nicotine-containing ones. That means Greek vapers who have managed to beat their nicotine addiction are left with only two options – quit vaping entirely, or go back to using nicotine.
Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, a Cardiology expert at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens, and a supporter of vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, recently shared the Greek Government’s decision on Facebook.
“In a world-first, unprecedented decision, Greek authorities have decided to ban the sales of non-nicotine e-cigarettes and only allow sales of nicotine e-cigarettes,” Farsalinos wrote. “This is a decision that has never been made in any other country in the world. Even in countries which have banned e-cigarettes, the ban is only applicable to nicotine containing products while non-nicotine products are sold legally.”
Greece is a member of the European Union, and because of the Tobacco Product Directive (TPD) is has to allow the commercialization of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and e-liquids, but the EU rules do not cover nicotine-free products, so Greek authorities have decided to ban those instead.
However, as Dr. Farsalinos points out in his Facebook post, this puts Greek vapers who have managed to beat their nicotine addiction, but have yet to overcome their hand-to-mouth habit, in a very awkward situation. They must either give up vaping completely, or go back to using nicotine again, which makes absolutely no sense.
“This decision will force anyone who has managed to get rid of nicotine to use nicotine again. Honestly, I am not sure if those who made this decision have understood the implications of their decision,” Dr, Farsalinos writes.
Σε μια πρωτοφανή σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο απόφαση, οι αρχές στην Ελλάδα απαγορεύουν την πώληση ηλεκτρονικών τσιγάρων χωρίς…
Posted by Konstantinos Farsalinos on Friday, June 1, 2018
Well, maybe they didn’t, but what if they did? According to last year’s Eurobarometer, Greece holds the no.1 spot for smoking, with 33% of its adult population smoking tobacco. I’m only speculating here, but what if this is a gift to Big Tobacco, an effort to keep former smokers addicted to nicotine? After all, if not for the TPD, the Greek government would have banned e-liquids completely.
Vapolitique reports that Greek authorities are using the need to discourage DIY e-liquid mixing to justify their decision, although that makes absolutely no sense. Whatever the real reason behind their ruling, this is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. It’s like Idiocracy in real life.
Photo: fdecomite/Flickr
