The Irish Senate Has Passed A Bill Raising The Legal Age For Selling Tobacco Products To 21 Years Old 2 Days Ago

The Irish Senate has passed a bill raising the legal age for selling tobacco products to 21 years old
2 days ago

The Irish Senate has passed an amendment to the Tobacco Act, raising the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 years old. Once signed by the President, the bill will come into effect on February 1, 2028.

According to Irish Central on November 7th, the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed in the Senate on the same day, completing its legislative process in both houses of parliament. The bill will raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 years old. At present, the bill will be submitted to the President for review and signature.

 

After being signed by the President, the bill will come into effect on February 1, 2028. The transitional period prior to this aims to ensure that individuals currently eligible to purchase tobacco between the ages of 18 and 21 will not be affected.

 

The bill stipulates that the current penalties will be expanded to include penalties for selling tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21. The first-time offender may be fined up to 4000 euros or imprisoned for six months, or both.

 

The Irish Department of Health stated that this measure aims to accelerate the decline in adult smoking rates (which have remained at 18% for many years) and reduce child smoking rates to zero. If the bill is passed, Ireland will become the first EU country to raise the tobacco sales age to 21 years old.

 

Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said,

 

Ireland has long been a global leader in the fight against smoking. Since the implementation of the workplace smoking ban in 2004, we have taken a series of measures, including restricting the sale, advertising, and packaging of tobacco products to reduce their appeal and accessibility to young people

 

I look forward to seeing the implementation of this measure to help our young people avoid lifelong addiction and illness caused by smoking

 

The Secretary of State for Public Health and National Drug Strategy, Colm Burke, stated that,

 

This measure will protect our young people and prevent them from becoming addicted to tobacco as adults. I have strongly supported its implementation from the beginning and look forward to its release

 

Professor Mary Hogan, Chief Medical Officer of Ireland, stated that,

 

The implementation of this legislation is an important step for us to reduce smoking levels. Smoking remains one of the biggest risk factors for disability and death, placing a significant burden on the national healthcare system. This measure will help eliminate this ongoing threat and support people in choosing healthier lifestyles

 

In December 2023, Donnelly implemented Section 28 of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhalation Products) Act 2023, which prohibits the sale of nicotine inhalation products such as electronic cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18.

 

In May 2024, Donnelly activated some provisions of the bill to prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhalation products through vending machines, and signed a law in December imposing a 2000 euro on-site fine on the sale of such products among children.

 

In addition, Northern Ireland's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomed the Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Act introduced this week. The bill stipulates that all individuals born on or after January 1, 2009 will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes, but its implementation in Northern Ireland requires the consent of the Northern Ireland Executive Committee and the support of Parliament.