Laois TD welcomes major crackdown on disposable vapes

A major upheaval of the tobacco industry has taken place as the Government approved the introduction of legislation to ban the sale of flavoured vapes. 

On Tuesday September 10, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly sought approval before Cabinet for a draft laws that would ban disposable vapes and limit the vape flavours currently available.

The legislation would prohibit the sale, manufacturing and import of disposable vapes in Ireland.

This effort is to reduce the amount of young adults currently vaping, which is currently at an all-time high.

Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, welcomes Government approval today to legislate to ban the sale of disposable vapes.

"For public health reasons, banning disposable vapes is a hugely important step that will protect younger people in particular, who often impulse buy them in shops and experiment with them," Minister Fleming said.

Pictured: Sean Fleming TD.

"The proposals would also restrict the sale of flavoured vapes, which often appeal to children, as well as ban point-of-sale advertising displays in shops other than specialised outlets that only sell vapes.

"It is welcome that the legislation will tackle advertising displays, packaging and flavours, as these are targeted at younger people," he said.

"The bright colours and imagery used to promote flavoured vapes are used to attract young people into impulse purchases. 

"Disposable vapes are also a blight on our environment. They are hazardous if not recycled properly and they can be seen littered across the country, in all of our communities, in even the most remote locations," said the TD.

"Fianna Fáil in Government recognise that nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and we are acting to make these products less accessible to our young people and to remove them from their everyday lives," Minister Fleming finished.

Since December, the sale of vapes to under 18's has been banned. Yet simultaneously, the number of teenagers vaping has never been higher.

Figures from Foróige Sligo show that one in every three teenagers aged 13-16 are addicted to nicotine vapes, having never smoked cigarettes beforehand. One in five (23%) of 10-12 year olds are currently vaping.

In comparison, a 2022 study by the Health Research Board (HRB) found that of children aged 9-18, only 4% of boys and 5% of girls report that they are current tobacco smokers.

The HRB study shows that e-cigarette use is about twice as common as tobacco smoking.