The Irish government is set to introduce a bill banning the sale of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18. The legislation is expected to be enacted in the coming months, and would make Ireland the latest country to clamp down on youth vaping. The move has been welcomed by health campaigners, who argue that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking and can have harmful effects on young people’s developing brains.
The new law would prohibit the sale of vaping products to anyone under the age of 18, and would also ban the use of e-cigarettes in designated smoke-free areas such as schools, hospitals and public transport. The legislation would also require retailers selling vaping products to display age-related warnings and to ask customers for proof of age before making a sale.
Ireland’s Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said the new law was necessary to protect young people from the potential harms of e-cigarettes. “We need to be realistic about the risks associated with vaping and take action to prevent a new generation becoming addicted to nicotine,” he said. “By banning the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s, we are sending a clear message that these products are not safe or suitable for young people.”
The move has been welcomed by health campaigners, who argue that e-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking and can have harmful effects on young people’s developing brains. Professor John Crown, former senator and consultant oncologist, has described e-cigarettes as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”. “We’ve been sold a myth that e-cigarettes are a safe alternative to smoking, but the truth is that we don’t yet know the long-term health effects of vaping,” he said. “By banning the sale of these products to under-18s, we are taking a necessary precautionary step to protect our young people’s health.”
The Irish government’s move to ban e-cigarette sales to under-18s is part of a wider crackdown on vaping products. Last year, the government announced that it would be implementing a number of measures to curb the sale and use of e-cigarettes, including a ban on advertising and sponsorship of vaping products, and limits on the amount of nicotine that can be included in e-cigarette liquids.
Other countries have taken similar steps to limit youth vaping. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21, while the UK has introduced a ban on the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes and restricted the advertising of vaping products. Canada, Australia and New Zealand have also introduced measures to restrict youth vaping.
Proponents of e-cigarettes argue that they are a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, and can help smokers to quit. However, health experts remain concerned about the long-term health effects of vaping, particularly for young people. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to develop heart disease, stroke and diabetes than non-users.
In light of the growing concerns about youth vaping, many health experts are calling for stronger measures to limit access to e-cigarettes. These measures could include raising the minimum age for buying e-cigarettes, restricting the flavours available, and increasing taxes on vaping products to make them less affordable for young people.
Overall, the Irish government’s move to ban e-cigarette sales to under-18s is a positive step towards protecting young people’s health. By taking action to limit youth vaping, the government is sending a clear message that e-cigarettes are not safe or suitable for young people, and is helping to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.
