Vaping 'the revenge of tobacco industry' - Martin
- Published
Plans to introduce a ban on selling e-cigarettes to under-18 has secured approval from the Republic of Ireland's cabinet.
New laws, due to be enacted this summer, will limit which retailers can sell nicotine-inhaling products in the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier, the tánaiste (Irish deputy PM) described vaping as "very dangerous, particularly for young people", according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
Micheál Martin said the ban would improve young people's lives.
He added that legislation to ban e-cigarette advertising near schools and on public transport in Ireland was also "very welcome".
"Ireland has made great strides in respect of tobacco use, reducing tobacco use among young people since the smoking ban," he said.
"In many ways, I see vaping as the revenge of the tobacco industry in terms of getting people hooked on nicotine again."
Irish Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought the finalised bill to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday morning.
He said the Republic's smoking rate "continues to remain unacceptably high at 18%" and research shows that vaping in adolescence increases the likelihood of smoking in adulthood.
It comes as the UK government announced a crackdown on vape marketing, which it said would prevent the "unacceptable" targeting of children and teens.
A recent BBC investigation found some vapes confiscated from school pupils contained unsafe levels of lead, nickel and chromium.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by the findings.
Flavoured vapes
The sale of e-cigarettes to children is already banned in a number of European countries.
In a recent survey of Irish school-aged children, 9% of 12-to-17-year-olds and 15.5% of 15 and 16-year-olds said they use e-cigarettes.
An evidence review by the Irish Health Research Board found children who vaped were five times more likely to start smoking.
A respiratory consultant at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has welcomed the new legislation.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, Dr Emmet O'Brien said there was emerging evidence of the impact of vaping on the brain and the respiratory system.
He said he would like further laws introduced to ban the availability of flavours and vapes "which are predominantly used by children".
Dr O'Brien also called for the introduction of plain packaging for e-cigarettes.