More than 100 retailers sold vapes to children in last 18 months - HSE figrues

More than 100 retailers across the country were found to be non-compliant with laws around the sale of vapes to children over the past 18 months, according to new Health Service Executive (HSE) figures, says Senator Robbie Gallagher.

It has been illegal since December 22, 2023, to sell nicotine-inhaling products such as e-cigarettes – more commonly known as vapes – to children under the age of 18.

Senator Gallagher says that inspections have been ramped up with as many inspections this year already as there were in the whole of last year.

Under the law, a person can be fined up to €4,000, as well as facing up to six months imprisonment.

The HSE’s National Environmental Health Service monitors compliance with the legislation through an annual test-purchase inspection programme. Last year, the service conducted 389 test purchase inspections. Of those, some 52 were found to be non-compliant – where one of these products was sold to a child.

In the first six months of this year, 310 inspections were carried out, of which 50 were found to be non-compliant.

Of the 52 non-compliant inspections found in 2024, 19 proceedings have been heard to date in the District Court.

Twelve of those cases resulted in a conviction with a fine, the number of cases in which the probation Act was applied was six and one case was struck out, withdrawn or dismissed by the court.

Proceedings relating to non-compliances identified this year are expected to be heard next year.

Senator Gallagher said, “The level of inspections in the first half of this year is almost at the same level as all of last year. The numbers of prosecutions need to rise. We need to make sure that enforcement works. Vapes are not harm-free and evidence shows that they can damage the brain, heart, lungs and even blood vessels. Moreover, e-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.”

Last year, the Government approved plans to ban the manufacture or import of single-use or disposable vapes in Ireland and to limit vape flavours, coloured packaging and descriptions, as well as the level of advertising of such products.

“Medical research shows that the younger you are when you start using nicotine, the more likely you are to become addicted. The sooner disposable vapes are all banned the better,” he added.