Ireland Pushes for Strict Anti-Vape Legislation

Ireland’s Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has secured cabinet approval to proceed with a bill that would drastically reduce the availability and variety of nicotine vapes in the country. The move comes despite the results of a public consultation that showed significant opposition to the proposed measures.

Donnelly framed the legislation¹ as necessary to address the rising issue of youth vaping, stating that the current ban on selling “nicotine inhaling products” to under-18s was not enough. The planned legislation would completely ban the sale, manufacture, and import of disposable vapes, restrict point-of-sale displays and in-store advertising, limit flavors, and impose further restrictions on packaging.

Public Consultation Results Ignored

The government held a public consultation² on the future of vaping in Ireland from November 2023 to January 2024. The results showed that 63% of the 15,821 respondents opposed restrictions on vape flavors, which play a crucial role in helping many people switch from cigarettes. Additionally, 58% agreed that current smoking laws should not be extended to vaping.

Tom Gleeson, a trustee of New Nicotine Alliance Ireland (NNA Ireland)³, criticized the government for dismissing opposing views as “astroturf by the tobacco industry,” calling it a “huge insult to the thousands of ordinary people who went to the trouble of making a submission.”

Further Regulation of Tobacco and Vape Products

Planned Vape Tax Ignores Consultation Results

The government also plans to introduce a new vape tax, with a levy that would add €1.23 to the cost of a typical vape⁴, far above the European average of €0.10 to €0.30. This decision disregards the consultation results, where 57% of participants wanted a tax rate in line with other EU countries, while only 10% favored a higher tax on vapes.

Also Read:
Ireland Vape Tax Expected in Budget 2025 as Talks Continue

Concerns Over Unintended Consequences

NNA Ireland sent an open letter to Donnelly on October 2, calling the plans “retrograde” and warning that removing popular smoking cessation methods could lead to unintended consequences. The letter, backed by international tobacco control experts, noted that the rise in vaping from 2017-19 coincided with a significant decline in smoking rates.

Experts urge caution when considering banning flavoured vapes.
Removing the most popular and widely used means of smoking cessation is not the way to reduce smoking rates.https://t.co/NeoEq2NFbf
— NNA Ireland (@IrelandNna) October 3, 2024

Dr. Garrett McGovern, a GP specializing in addiction medicine, emphasized that disposables are popular among adults trying to quit smoking and that banning them would be a “big mistake.” He warned that if disposables and flavors were removed from the market, there would be a “huge danger” of former smokers returning to smoking.

Personal Stories Highlight Importance of Vaping

Ken Heffernan, a former smoker who lives just outside Dublin, shared his story of how vaping helped him quit smoking after years of failed attempts using other methods. Heffernan, who now enjoys a variety of vape flavors, expressed concern about the upcoming legislation and its potential impact on others trying to quit smoking.

The 2021 ETHRA survey of over 35,000 adult EU vapers found that only 5.4% used tobacco flavor exclusively, highlighting the importance of flavors in the vaping experience.

Accusations of “Moral Panic” and Misinformation

Dr. McGovern accused the government of being “ill-informed” and giving in to “moral panic.” He believes that Donnelly has been convinced by a well-coordinated group within the medical profession and thinks the legislation will be a vote-winner, without realizing the potential impact on the estimated 200,000 or more vapers in Ireland who use these products to stop smoking.

NNA Ireland’s letter warned that a ban on disposables and flavors could prompt adverse behavioral responses in both adolescents and adults, protect the cigarette trade, promote black markets, and weaken Ireland’s response to the public health burden of smoking.

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Source: “Moral Panic”—Irish Government Plans Sweeping Anti-Vape Legislation

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.