Tánaiste gives support to a ban on disposable vapes

THE Tánaiste has said he would like to see a ban on disposable vapes.

Micheál Martin made the comments after British prime minister Rishi Sunak set out plans to get rid of disposable vapes to protect children’s health.

A Government law making it illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18 came into effect last month.

Anyone caught selling vapes to underage customers can receive a penalty of up to €4,000 and up to six months in prison.

Many young people are using disposable vapes that are much cheaper and easier to obtain than the reusable devices, and they also come in a variety of colours and flavours designed to appeal to younger customers.

Asked if he would like to bring in similar legislation to that seen in Britain, Mr Martin said: ‘I would hope so. I am very anti-vapes, generally.

The Fianna Fáil leader, who was Minister for Health when the smoking ban was introduced, added that it’s depressing to see the growth in vaping.

He said: ‘The old trick of the tobacco industry was: kids went in to buy sweets, you have the cigarettes next to the sweets, now you have the vapes with different flavours and so on like that.

‘Clearly, the objective is to get kids, get young people, get teenagers hooked and you have an industry for the next 50 years, without any proper due diligence on what goes into these products.’

He continued: ‘In my view, there needs to be far greater, from a health perspective, analysis of the products in terms of their harmful impact.

‘I welcome any means to crack down on the sector.

‘I just think it’s shocking the number of young people who are on the vapes now and it seems to me to be the replacement for the cigarettes.’