Northern Ireland tightens regulations on nicotine products to protect young people
January 10, 2022
Par: National Committee Against Smoking
Dernière mise à jour: January 10, 2022
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
New regulations banning smoking in private vehicles in the presence of children under 18 and prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors have been approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and will be introduced from 1er February 2022[1].
Starting February 1, new regulations will extend smoke-free spaces to private vehicles where children are present, as well as when there is more than one person in the vehicle and the vehicle is closed (even if the windows are down and/or the doors are open). The ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors will also be extended to all vaping products and accessories.
Protective measures for children and adolescents
These measures are being introduced to protect children and young people from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in indoor environments. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and children are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home are more likely to become smokers themselves. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Northern Ireland, killing 2,300 people each year.
Additionally, starting February 1, it will also be illegal to sell vaping products (e-cigarettes, accessories, liquids, or refills) to minors under the age of 18. This ban also stipulates that purchasing or attempting to purchase such products on behalf of a minor will constitute an offense: an offense of purchasing by proxy.
To raise awareness and encourage support for the new regulations, the Public Health Agency will run two media campaigns starting January 10, 2022[2]These campaigns aim to alert the public to the dangers of secondhand smoke, the strong addiction induced by nicotine, and the risks of exposure to adolescent brain development. Both campaigns will be broadcast on radio, outdoor posters, television, and social media.
Keywords: Northern Ireland, ban on sales to minors, passive smoking, smoke-free spaces, vaping
AE
[1] Smoking and vaping regulations in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Government website, accessed 10 January 2021 [2] Smoking in private vehicles and nicotine inhaling products regulations: resources for campaigns, Northern Ireland Public Health Agency website, accessed 10 January 2021 National Committee Against Smoking |
