KIDS VAPE BAN
»»E-cig sale to »»Irish law may minors illegal go beyond EU
HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has vowed to crack down on the design and flavour of vapes as he announced a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes for under-18s.
He said the EU is currently examining new legislation on the devices but if it does not go far enough, Ireland will push forward with its own regulations.
Cabinet approved a Bill from the minister that will prohibit the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to minors.
It will also outlaw the sale of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products at events for children and ban vape vending machines.
Ads for e-cigs on public transport and around schools will be proscribed with a strict new licensing system introduced for the products.
Mr Donnelly said while Ireland is not looking at an “outright ban” on vapes, he does want to see restrictions on flavours, labelling, designs and advertising in shops.
He added: “We’re engaging with the EU on the updated Tobacco Products
Directive. This is a directive we anticipate will be published next year.
“We’re keen to see restrictions brought in on labelling. We’re keen to see restrictions brought in on flavours.
“We’re pursuing that through the EU approach. That directive is still being worked up and we’ll see how it’s published.
“Our preference is to do this on an Eu-wide basis coming in next year.
“If it looks like that’s not going to happen or if it’s going to be delayed or watered down at an EU level, we will look to amend the legislation and bring it in here in Ireland.
“We’re going to be supporting moves to restrict labelling, as was done previously and successfully in terms of tobacco products.”
Mr Donnelly told the Irish Mirror he believes the flavours and designs for vapes are “child-friendly”. He continued: “Rather than getting into specifics of what they might look like, I think from a policy perspective, we need something that does not look like it’s trying to be attractive to children and young people.”
Mr Donnelly said vaping can impair teenagers’ cognitive development and added there is evidence which showed it can actually lead to smoking real cigarettes.
Minister of State for Drugs Hildegarde Naughton also confirmed retailers who are found to have sold vapes to teenagers will face fines of up to €4,000 or up to six months in jail.
For subsequent offences, there is a fine of up to €5,000 or 12 months in prison.
Retailers will also have to obtain a licence to be allowed to sell vapes in their stores.
Elsewhere, Minister Donnelly said he was disappointed by figures in the census that showed the level of smoking among people in their 20s and 30s increased during the pandemic.
Nearly a quarter of both daily (23%) and occasional (22%) smokers were aged between 35 and 44.
Just under a quarter (24%) of people aged 25 to 29 years smoked either daily or
occasionally.
Preference is to do this on an Eu-wide basis
STEPHEN DONNELLY YESTERDAY