Further restrictions on vaping and smoking on the cards amid concern over growing popularity among young people

A public consultation on the future regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, such as e-cigarettes or vapes, has been launched by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

According to the Healthy Ireland Survey 2023 prevalence of smoking is relatively stable, with 18 per cent of people saying they were current smokers; however, vaping was found to have become more popular in recent years, particularly among young people. Health authorities have said vaping is not harm-free. Most vaping liquids contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.

Legislation to ban vaping products to under-18s is currently before the Oireachtas. The Bill contains wide-ranging measures to tackle smoking and vaping among children and adults. The measures focus on preventing young people from beginning to smoke or vape.

The Minister – along with his colleague Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy – is committed to further legislation in this area, and this consultation is the first step in developing it.

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The public consultation is seeking views on the display of nicotine inhaling products in shops, nicotine inhaling product flavours, the appearance of nicotine inhaling products, smoking in outdoor dining areas, extending smoke-free restrictions to vaping, increasing the age of sale for tobacco products and increasing the price of vapes.

Mr Donnelly said while he understood e-cigarettes are used by many adults who are trying to quit smoking, he was “deeply concerned by the rise in popularity of vaping among young people”.

“These products clearly appeal to children and young people, and we do not yet know the long-term health impacts of their use,” he said.

Research published last month found more than a third of young people aged 13 to 16 years old currently vape and never smoked before starting.

The study, commissioned by Foróige Sligo, in partnership with the Northwest Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force and Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, sought to understand the impact vaping products have on young people in Ireland.

Researchers questioned 900 young people aged 10 to 24, through an online survey, discussion groups and interviews.

It found that, across all age groups, there is a link between appearing “cool” and vaping use. It also found the perceived social standing of vaping allows some young people to feel connected among their peers, facilitating a sense of social cohesion.