Thessaloniki Airport: Where To Buy Cigarettes?

can you buy cigarettes at thessaloniki airport

Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) offers designated smoking areas to accommodate smokers. These areas are typically located outside terminal buildings, in designated zones or smoking lounges. However, Thessaloniki Airport does not have designated smoking areas after security. Regarding the purchase of cigarettes, travellers entering the EU from outside can bring goods for personal use within set limits. For travellers aged 17 and above, the duty-free allowance for tobacco products is 200 cigarettes.

Characteristics Values
Can you buy cigarettes at Thessaloniki Airport? Yes, tobacco products are available at the airport's duty-free shops.
Smoking areas Designated smoking areas are available at Thessaloniki Airport. These areas are usually located outside the terminal buildings, in specifically designated zones or smoking lounges. However, the availability and location of smoking areas may vary, and some airports may not have designated smoking areas.
Vaping Vaping is prohibited in airport terminals.
Bringing cigarettes into Greece If entering the EU from outside, travellers can bring goods for personal use free of VAT and excise duties within certain limits. For travellers arriving from non-EU countries, Greece allows travellers aged 17 and above to bring up to 200 cigarettes without incurring customs duty.

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Thessaloniki Airport smoking areas

Smoking is restricted in indoor public places at Thessaloniki Airport, including restaurants, bars, and cafes. You are also not allowed to smoke within 10m of a child or pregnant woman.

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminals. There is a smoking area after security on the second floor (take the elevator or stairs opposite Gate 5).

The availability of airport smoking areas can vary depending on the airport and location. Some smoking areas are open 24 hours a day, while others may have restricted hours or be closed during certain times. It is advisable to check with the airport or visit their website for specific information on the smoking area’s hours of operation.

Some smoking areas may allow outside food and drinks, while others may have restrictions or prohibit them completely. It is best to check with the airport or the smoking area signage for specific rules and regulations. Not all airport smoking areas may allow smoking, and some airports may have designated areas for electronic cigarettes or vaping, which are separate from traditional smoking areas.

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Buying tobacco products at Thessaloniki Airport

Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) has a duty-free shop that sells tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and loose tobacco. The shop also sells perfumes, cosmetics, confectionery, toys, electronics, spirits, sunglasses, watches, and accessories.

If you are entering Greece from a non-EU country, you may import tobacco products for personal use without incurring customs duty. The limit for tobacco products is 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco. You may combine these products as long as you do not exceed the total limit. For alcoholic beverages, you are allowed to bring 4 litres of wine, 16 litres of beer, 1 litre of spirits over 22% volume, or 2 litres of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume. The total value of goods should not exceed EUR 300 per traveller or EUR 430 for travellers by air and sea.

If you are travelling within the EU, you can carry tobacco and alcohol products for personal use, but not for resale. EU law does not require you to prove that the goods are for personal use if you are carrying less than a certain amount. However, each EU country may have different limits, so it is important to check before you travel. For example, some countries may limit the number of cigarettes you can bring from other EU countries that do not yet charge the minimum level of excise duty. This limit cannot be lower than 300 cigarettes.

It is worth noting that Thessaloniki Airport has a designated smoking area after security on the second floor, accessible by taking the elevator or stairs opposite Gate 5. Smoking is generally allowed in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal buildings, away from entrances and other non-smoking areas. However, vaping is prohibited in airport terminals, and some airports do not have designated smoking areas.

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Bringing cigarettes into Greece from outside the EU

Greece enforces stricter limits on tobacco products for land entry from outside the EU. The following quantities are allowed:

  • 40 cigarettes
  • 20 cigarillos
  • 10 cigars
  • 50 grams of tobacco

These products can be combined, but the total quantity must not exceed the allowed limit. The tobacco products must be for personal use only.

If you are travelling by air or sea, you can bring personal items of a non-commercial nature worth up to €430. If you are travelling by land, this limit is €300. Travellers under 15 years of age are subject to a lower limit of €150.

If you are entering Greece from outside the EU, you can bring goods free of VAT and excise duties for personal use within set limits. This includes up to 1 litre of alcohol that does not exceed 22% volume, or 2 litres of alcohol that does not exceed 22% volume. You can also bring 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer.

It is important to note that bringing meat and dairy products from non-EU countries into Greece is prohibited. Other types of food are allowed but must meet certain conditions, such as being non-perishable, factory-sealed, and undamaged.

When travelling to Greece, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the specific smoking policies of the airport, as they may have designated smoking areas or restrictions in place.

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Greece's smoking laws

Greece has one of the highest rates of smoking in the European Union, with more than a third of Greeks smoking. In 2010, Greece banned smoking in all indoor public areas, and in 2019, a tougher law was introduced, including fines for patrons and businesses. However, the ban has been widely flouted, and many businesses have allowed smoking, especially in rural areas and smaller towns. Despite the laws, smoking rates in Greece remain high, with many citizens resisting outdoor bans.

Greece banned smoking and the consumption of tobacco products in all indoor public spaces in September 2010. This included workplaces, transport stations, taxis, passenger ships, restaurants, and nightclubs. The law was amended in 2019 to include a ban on all "equivalent" products, such as vaping devices, e-cigarettes, and other inhaled products. The law also introduced fines for both smokers and businesses that did not comply. These fines range from €50 to €100 for smokers and €500 to €10,000 for businesses. For companies that violate the law for the fifth time, the law requires their closure.

The Hellenic Action through Research Against Tobacco (HEART) has conducted clinical research on the impact of smoking and the effects of second-hand smoke. The initiative also plans to raise awareness among children and create smoke-free environments on school grounds.

Despite these efforts, the smoking culture in Greece has been slow to change. Many businesses have not enforced the ban, and signage indicating the smoking ban legislation is commonly ignored. However, there has been a decrease in passive smoking in Greece, and some citizens are making efforts to quit or cut down on smoking.

Thessaloniki Airport Smoking Policies

Thessaloniki Airport may have designated smoking areas available outside the terminal buildings in specifically designated zones or smoking lounges. However, the availability and location of these areas may vary, and some airports in Greece do not have designated smoking areas. It is advisable to check the specific smoking policies and guidelines of the airport before your visit.

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Greece's vaping laws

Greece has a relatively relaxed attitude towards vaping compared to other European countries. Vaping is legal in Greece, and disposable vapes are allowed. However, travellers are advised to pack enough vaping products for their trip as regulations can change, and Greece has been enforcing stricter vaping laws.

Vaping is permitted in some public spaces, but not all. Vaping is banned in enclosed spaces, workplaces, and public transport. Some restaurants and cafes permit vaping at the owner's discretion. It is always courteous to inquire about the vaping policy beforehand.

Greece has a vibrant network of vape shops, and vape products are also available at tobacconists and convenience stores. However, e-liquid bottles may be more expensive in Greece than in other countries. Greece has implemented a tax on vape liquids, with a duty tax of €0.10 per ml on e-liquid bottles, resulting in an additional cost of €1 per bottle.

Greece aligns its vaping regulations with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which includes the following key points:

  • E-liquids must not contain nicotine strength exceeding 20mg.
  • Nicotine-containing e-liquids must be sold in bottles with a maximum capacity of 10ml.
  • Refillable vape tanks and disposable vapes are limited to a total vape juice capacity of 2ml.

Greece's conservative government has also proposed banning flavoured e-cigarettes, excluding natural tobacco and mint. This has faced criticism from consumer groups and vaping advocates, who argue that flavours help smokers switch to safer options.

In terms of airport regulations, vaping is prohibited in airport terminals. Thessaloniki Airport may have designated smoking areas, usually located outside terminal buildings, but it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the specific smoking policies of the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, tobacco products are available at the Hellenic Duty-Free Shops at Thessaloniki Airport.

There are no restrictions mentioned on the Thessaloniki Airport website. However, each EU country has different rules for travellers under 17. Greece allows travellers from non-EU countries over 17 years of age to bring in 200 cigarettes duty-free.

Yes, there is a designated smoking area after security on the second floor. Smoking is generally allowed outdoors, outside the terminal buildings, and away from entrances and other non-smoking areas.

Greece has vaping restrictions at airports. Vaping is prohibited in airport terminals, but Thessaloniki Airport may have designated areas for e-cigarettes or vaping, separate from the traditional smoking areas.

Yes, you can bring your own cigarettes to smoke in the designated smoking areas. However, if you are entering the EU from outside, there are limits on the amount of tobacco you can bring for personal use.

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