Irish Health Body Calls for Flavor Ban

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) has called for a ban on all flavorings for e-liquids available for purchase in Ireland, reports the Irish Medical Times. The group says its goal is to protect children from the device that simulates tobacco smoking.

The RCPI Policy Group on Tobacco wants to prohibit all liquid flavorings, apart from tobacco flavor. The group is also calling for increased regulation and future taxation on e-cigarettes.

A review into e-cigarette use by Ireland’s Health Research Board found that e-cigarettes were associated with adolescents starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes, which could potentially lead to serious harm.

“These findings have important public health ramifications and do not support recommending e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool,” said Des Cox, chair of the RCPI Policy Group on Tobacco.

The board recommended that people use nicotine replacement therapies and/or medications prescribed by their general practitioner instead of e-cigarettes when trying to quit smoking.