Bill equates vaping with smoking

The Health Ministry in Greece has drafted a bill that would prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes in enclosed public places, according to a story by Kerry Kolasa-Sikiaridi for the Greek Reporter.

The bill was tabled in parliament on Friday by the ministry, which has decided that electronic cigarettes are a potential gateway to nicotine addiction.

The bill also transposes provisions of the revised EU Tobacco Products Directive.

The bill’s vapor-product provisions have met with much objection from vapers, who say the government should have conducted more research and consulted scientists and researchers on vaping before drafting a bill that equates them with smokers.

The Kathimerini newspaper reported last week that electronic cigarette users in Greece had held a press conference to denounce government plans to outlaw them from vaping in enclosed public places.

The association of Greek vapers was said to have criticized the government for preparing the bill without first consulting with researchers, scientists, former smokers and electronic cigarette users.

Vapers said that by lumping them together with regular smokers, the new legislation denied them the right to avoid tobacco smoke.

During the press conference, the vapers presented an open letter with their grievances addressed to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and a letter of support signed by vapers’ associations from 16 European countries.