A NEW law banning the sale of vapes to young people came into effect on Friday, December 22.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, commenced section 28 of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act to prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes (commonly referred to as vapes) to persons under 18.
It is now an offence to sell a nicotine inhaling product to a child, and the offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to €4,000 and/up to a six-month term of imprisonment.
Mr Donnelly said that other measures in the Act surrounding advertising, a licensing system and vending machines will be signed in early next year.
"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," said Mr Donnelly.
“I’d also like to thank officials in my department and the Attorney General’s office for working to get the statutory instrument complete so that we can introduce this ban.
“In 2024 I will commence the remaining measures in the Act and we will examine the results of our public consultation on the further regulation of e-cigarettes and on some innovative proposals in tobacco control.”
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton the introduction of the ban 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," she said.
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.”
