Greeks are “champions” in the EU in chain smoking and alcohol consumption, according to a cross-national survey conducted by the European Social Survey (ESS) across Europe.

The survey, carried out bi-annually, takes place with face-to-face interviews of newly selected, cross-sectional samples.

Research data has unveiled troubling statistics about smoking habits in Greece, placing the country at the top of a comparative study of 24 nations. Nearly one in three Greeks (29.5%) smokes more than 10 cigarettes per day—the highest rate among the countries surveyed.

Overall, 40% of the Greek population are smokers, either occasionally or regularly. Men lead the statistics with a smoking rate of 46.8%, compared to 33.8% among women.

In stark contrast, Sweden reported the lowest smoking rate, with only 1.5% of respondents identifying as smokers.

These findings highlight a significant public health concern for Greece, particularly in comparison to other European nations.

High Rates of Binge Drinking in Greece

A recent study reveals striking findings about alcohol consumption in Greece, which ranks second after Ireland in binge drinking—defined as consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period. The rates are particularly high among men, with 9.1% engaging in binge drinking daily and 41.1% weekly, compared to 2.4% and 27% among women, respectively.

Young people aged 15–29 exhibit the highest weekly binge drinking rates, with nearly 47.5% reporting excessive alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, individuals aged 70 and older emerge as the group with the highest daily alcohol consumption.

Lowest Vegetable Consumption in Europe

Another concerning aspect of Greek dietary habits revealed by the study is the low consumption of vegetables. Greece ranks last among surveyed countries in eating vegetables three or more times a day, with just 1.3% of respondents claiming frequent daily consumption.

This is particularly surprising given Greece’s rich agricultural production of vegetables, which seems to play a limited role in the national diet. In contrast, countries in Northern and Central Europe, such as the United Kingdom (13.1%) and Ireland (8.8%), report significantly higher rates of regular vegetable consumption.

These findings highlight notable disparities in both alcohol and dietary habits, raising questions about public health priorities in Greece.