While Ireland may become the first country in the EU to raise the legal age for tobacco sales, it cannot go as far as implementing a generational ban. Photo credit: lil artsy, Pexels.
According to Ireland’s health minister Stephen Donnelly and public health, wellbeing, and the national drugs strategy minister Colm Burke, the country’s cabinet has approved legislation to raise the legal age for tobacco sales to 21. Ireland will be the first EU country to implement this measure. Latvia has enacted law to raise the minimum age of sale to 20 in 2025.
In 2004, Ireland was the first country in the world to ban indoor smoking in workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.
The new legislation aims to reduce Ireland's adult smoking rate to below 5%, in line with government policy. Currently, 18% of the population aged 15 and over smoke.
Initial legal advice suggests that Ireland cannot pursue a "smokefree generation" policy, as seen in other jurisdictions, due to EU regulations like the Single Market rules and the Tobacco Products Directive.
The new bill will provide that the prohibition on tobacco product sales will not apply to those who are currently between the ages of 18 and 20. It also will not impact the minimum legal age of sale of nicotine inhaling products or vapes. Since December, the sale of vapes to those under 18 has been banned. There is currently no proposal to extend this ban to the age of 21.