According to Irish media TheJournal, on May 13th, Irish Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will seek cabinet support for a landmark law that would raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old.
This reform aims to reduce the number of smokers, despite a decline in smoking rates in the country, the rate of smoking has stabilized, with 18% of Irish adults smoking. The legislation will not affect the current 18 to 21-year-olds who are already allowed to purchase tobacco products, there is a "transition period" in place for this group, but it is not yet clear how long this transition period will last.
This age group is considered to be at high risk for starting smoking. Tangnali has already taken measures to address e-cigarettes and has enacted laws prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors under 18 years old.
On the other hand, a bill banning the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products from vending machines will soon come into effect, and a licensing system will mean that businesses selling these products will have to pay an annual fee. The Health Minister has promised to impose further restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco products, with a second law currently being drafted.
Although the minimum legal age for tobacco sales has been raised in some areas of the United States and Canada, Donald's proposal does not reach the level of law planned by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who plans to raise the legal age for cigarette sales by one year annually, meaning those born in 2009 or later will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes.
However, in Ireland, smoking and secondhand smoke still lead to nearly 6000 deaths each year. Deaths caused by smoking are mainly due to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease. Cigarettes contain over 4000 toxic chemicals, many of which have been proven to cause cancer.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
