ATHENS

Greece set to impose stricter penalties for selling alcohol, electronic cigarettes and vapes to minors, media reports said Thursday.

The government will introduce a bill on the issue after a joint decision by the ministries of citizen protection, justice and health, according to the To Vima newspaper.

It noted that the move comes after repeated incidents of selling alcohol to minors, which recently were in the headlines when eight minors in Athens were hospitalized because of alcohol consumption.

According to sources familiar with the issue, violators who sell harmful products to minors could face prison time, fines and other administrative penalties, including the immediate closure of the business involved.

“Everything is now becoming stricter for the protection of minors, with increased enforcement,” said Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis.