Government bans sale of vaping products to under 18s – RTE.ie

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced the banning of the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to children.

Mr Donnelly had secured cabinet approval earlier this year and the law will prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes (commonly referred to as vapes) to persons under 18.

The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill comes into effect from Friday 22 December 2023.

Under the new law, it is an offence to sell a nicotine inhaling product to a child.

The offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to 4,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months.

The legislation also contains other wide-ranging measures to tackle smoking and vaping among children and adults.

These measures include, in addition to the ban, the prohibition of selling tobacco and nicotine inhaling products at events to children.

Advertising of nicotine inhaling products around schools and on public transport will also be banned and there will be a stricter licensing system put in place for the retail sale of these products.

Mr Donnelly reacting to the announcement said: "I committed to bringing this ban on the sale of vaping products to under 18s into law before Christmas and I am pleased that I have been able to do that by signing the commencement order".

"I thank colleagues in both Houses of the Oireachtas who understood the urgency for our children and who supported me to get this law enacted quickly," he added.

In November, Mr Donnelly and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton launched a public consultation into future regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products such as vapes.

Ms Naughton said the ban on e-cigarettes was a good beginning.

"I look forward to the results of our public consultation on the options for the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products, particularly around flavourings and packaging".

"We know that young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke, so it is important that they are not drawn to these products," Ms Naughton added.

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Government bans sale of vaping products to under 18s - RTE.ie