Law banning sale of vapes to under 18s is passed

A new law will come into affect tomorrow which will ban the sale of of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes (commonly referred to as vapes) to persons under 18.

The ban is part of the commencement of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act. The offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to €4,000 and / up to a six-month term of imprisonment.

Deputy Niamh Smyth welcomed the act saying she is looking forward to the rest of it being rolled out.

She said "the measures in the act designed to protect our children and young people from starting to vape. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and we are acting to make these products less accessible to our young people and to remove the advertising for these products from our children’s everyday lives.

“I look forward to the commencement of the remaining measures in the Act next year. These include measures around advertising, a licensing system and vending machines.”