Ireland: New restrictions on vaping products
November 24, 2022
Par: National Committee Against Smoking
Dernière mise à jour: November 24, 2022
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Health Minister Frank Feighan have received approval from the Irish Government to introduce further restrictions on the sale and advertising of vaping products.
The proposals will be incorporated into the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhalation Products) Bill, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be finalised and published by the end of the year.[1].
Restrictions to protect the younger generation
Stephen Donnelly said the bans were intended to limit young people's exposure to vaping advertising and prevent them from getting started with the products. The bill includes measures to ban the sale of vaping products to under-18s and introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco and vaping products. The bill also includes the suspension, at least temporarily, of retailers found guilty of selling vaping products to minors and the introduction of fixed penalty notices for these offences.
Among other measures, the sale of e-cigarettes will be banned in self-service vending machines, in temporary or mobile premises and in places or events aimed at children. In addition, advertisements for e-cigarettes will be banned on public transport, in cinemas and near schools.
More recently, the Irish government had also considered banning disposable e-cigarettes such as puffs.[2] which have become very popular among teenagers in the country.
High consumption of vaping products in Ireland
According to the latest data available in Ireland[3], in 2015, 23 % of adolescents (girls and boys) reported having already used e-cigarettes. This figure increased to 37 % in 2019. In 2019, 18.1% of adolescents reported being regular consumers of vaping products compared to 10.1 % in 2015.
The Irish Department of Health has expressed concern about the 16,000 different flavours of vaping products – such as bubblegum and gummy bears – and fears that vaping could be a gateway to smoking for young people. A study by the Health Research Board found that teenagers who vape are five times more likely to start smoking later in life. Another study presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress in September 2022 in Barcelona found that the majority of teenagers (68%) who had tried an e-cigarette at least once in Ireland had never smoked before.[4].
©Brian Lawless/Press Association Images/MAXPPPKeywords: Ireland, vaping, advertising, marketing, minors, flavors
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[1] Press release, Government agrees to further regulation of e-cigarettes, Irish Department of Health website, published 22 November 2022, accessed 23 November 2022 [2] Tobacco-free generation, Ireland considers banning disposable e-cigarettes, published October 24, 2022, accessed November 23, 2022 [3] Tobacco-free generation, Ireland: Smoking and vaping on the rise among teenagers, published on September 23, 2021, consulted on November 23, 2022 [4] Tobacco-free generation, Vaping, a Pathway to Nicotine Addiction for Teens, published September 6, 2022, accessed November 23, 2022 National Committee Against Smoking |
