Complete ban on all e-cigarette flavours 'urgently needed' says Irish Heart Foundation

A complete ban on all e-cigarette flavours and disposable vapes is urgently required to prevent a new generation of youngsters being exposed to the dangers of smoking, the Irish Heart Foundation has warned.

The charity was commenting after plans to ban the sale of vaping products to under 18s were approved by Cabinet today (May 30).

The new measures are expected to become law in July and will also curb the advertising of e-cigarettes around schools, and ban their sale from vending machines.

But the country’s national stroke and heart charity believes stronger legislation is still required.

“We need a full ban on all e-cigarettes flavours, except tobacco, and a complete prohibition of all forms of advertising, including online influencers promoting vaping products,” Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy and Patient Support with the Irish Heart Foundation said.

Chris Macey

Tánaiste Micheál Martin welcomed the legislation. 

“I think vaping is very dangerous, particularly for young people, and I’m really shocked at the manner in which it’s being marketed towards young people in particular,” Mr Martin said outside Government Buildings.

“And I think this legislation is very, very welcome indeed.

“And we will work with opposition during the course of legislation if it can be strengthened even further, particularly in terms of the marketing aspect towards young people.”

Mr Macey has called for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes, the introduction of plain packaging for vaping, and the increase of the legal age of all tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 to 21.

“Irish research shows that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are up to five times more likely to start smoking compared to those who don’t,” he added.

Mr Macey also said the ban on selling vaping products to teenagers was the perfect opportunity to begin a national conversation on an eventual “endgame” for tobacco in Ireland.

“Ireland can reclaim its global leadership role in tobacco and nicotine policy by undertaking a dual strategy of implementing stronger regulatory policies on e-cigarettes to protect young people and commencing a broad consultation on New Zealand-style tobacco endgame measures,” he said.

“It is beyond time that we regain our ambition for bold, innovative actions. 

“If we don’t, we risk losing an entirely new generation of young people to the addictive nature of nicotine and the extremely harmful nature of smoking.

“Despite all the strong rhetoric coming from the government in committing to action on vaping, we have become increasingly complacent over the past several years.

“For the first time in a generation, teenage smoking rates are on the rise, a rise almost certainly fuelled by the gateway effect of vaping.

“But Ireland is behind its European neighbours in our efforts to protect children from vaping – and we are one of the last countries in the European Union to introduce a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s.”