Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed she has quit smoking during an informal exchange with fellow G7 leaders on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The moment came amid light-hearted banter at a side event of the summit — sparked in part by Meloni’s decision to wear a tie, a stylistic choice that prompted her to joke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: “You can call me a warrior.”
When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked how she was feeling, Meloni replied, “I needed three coffees today.” Von der Leyen responded with surprise: “Goodness, just to wake up?” Meloni clarified: she had given up cigarettes a month earlier.
Merkz interjected with a wry “And a cigarette?” — prompting Meloni’s confirmation that she’d indeed quit. Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa then joined the conversation, noting he had stopped smoking back in 2005. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared taken aback, asking, “That’s it? You never relapsed?” To which Costa — who also serves as President of the European Council — replied firmly: “Never. I quit 21 years ago.”
The exchange offered a rare, candid glimpse into personal habits among world leaders — and marked a notable shift for Meloni, who had previously described herself as unable to imagine life without cigarettes, even joking darkly: “If I ever have to quit smoking, I’ll kill someone.”