There has been little change in Slovenia’s status since the 2023 Nanny State Index, but that is set to change. At the time of writing, the government will introduce a ban on e-cigarette flavours in April 2025 and smoking rooms will be banned by the end of the year.

Slovenia has endured several years of creeping authoritarianism in the field of lifestyle regulation. Since passing the Restriction of the Use of Tobacco and Related Products Act in February 2017, the government has gone all-in on anti-smoking policies and now has plain packaging (introduced January 2020), a total ban on tobacco advertising, a display ban and a licensing regime for retailers.

Cigarette vending machines are banned nationwide and it is illegal to ‘show and use tobacco, tobacco products and related products on television and in public performances intended for persons younger than 18’. However, Slovenia has stopped short of introducing the kind of draconian smoking ban that is common in Anglo-Saxon countries. It allows designated smoking rooms of up to twenty per cent of the surface area of the premises, although patrons cannot bring food or drink into them. As mentioned above, these will soon be forbidden.

Since March 2017, e-cigarettes have been regulated as tobacco products. This means that vaping is banned wherever smoking is banned, and cross-border sales of e-cigarette products are illegal. E-cigarette advertising is also subject to a tobacco-style ban. A €0.18 per ml tax on e-cigarette fluid was introduced in April 2016 with the explicit aim of discouraging smokers from switching to vaping. This has since been raised to €0.21 per ml and nicotine-free fluids are taxed at €0.10 per ml.

Slovenia has entirely banned advertising for alcoholic drinks which are above 15 per cent ABV. Commercials for beer and wine, if below 15 per cent, can be broadcast on TV and radio between 9.30pm and 7am, and in cinemas after 10pm. No advertising of alcoholic products is permitted on billboards within 300 metres of a school or kindergarten. Beer duty is very high after adjusting for income, but there is no wine duty and taxes on spirits are relatively low. Bars and restaurants can close when they like.

The government has passed little legislation under the pretext of obesity prevention although food vending machines are banned in schools. There are no significant restrictions on food marketing. Slovenia does not have a sugar tax although it did raise VAT on sugary drinks from 9.5% to the standard rate of 22% in January 2025.