TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Ireland

  • Superdrug to Stop Selling Disposables in UK and Ireland

    Superdrug to Stop Selling Disposables in UK and Ireland

    Image: Nick

    Superdrug will stop selling disposable vape products in its U.K. and Ireland stores following environmental concern over the products, reports the Guardian.

    The retailer noted that it would have its stock completely cleared out by the end of the year.

    “The rate that consumers are using single-use vapes and discarding them is worrying and alarming for the environment,” said Lucy Morton-Channon, Superdrug’s head of environment, social and governance. “The lasting effects that single-use vapes are having on the environment needs to be addressed, and I am pleased that we’ve decided to remove them from all stores.”

    Superdrug also cited risk of fire from improper vape disposal as a reason for discontinuing sales.

  • Vaping to be Banned for Those Under 18

    Vaping to be Banned for Those Under 18

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Ireland will ban vaping for those under the age of 18, effective July, reports the Irish Times.

    Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will bring a memo to the Cabinet this week outlining the full legislation. The new law is expected to be enacted before the lower house of Parliament’s summer recess in mid-July.

    The legislation includes restrictions on the types of retailers allowed to sell vapes or nicotine-inhaling products as well as measures to curb advertising of nicotine-inhaling products near schools and other locations frequented by kids and young adults.

    Donnelly is expected to tell the Cabinet that there is “clear evidence” that nicotine exposure in young people has long-term effects on brain development, referencing recently published surveys of Irish school-aged kids. The surveys, including the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey from 2018 and the European Schools Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs survey from 2019, showed that 9 percent of 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds and 15.5 percent of 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days. Donnelly is also expected to reference a Health Research Board review that found that kids who vaped were five times more likely to begin smoking.

    The government is expected to prioritize passage of the bill through the Oireachtas to allow for full debate and discussion before sending the legislation to President Michael D. Higgins for his signature.

  • Illicit Tobacco Trade Up in Ireland

    Illicit Tobacco Trade Up in Ireland

    Photo: UbjsP

    The illegal cigarette trade cost the Irish government approximately €384 million ($415.25 million) in lost excise duty and value-added tax during 2022, reports the Irish Examiner, citing estimates by the Revenue Commissioners.

    A survey carried out by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners, shows that 17 percent of all cigarette packs held by smokers in 2022 were illegal. This is up from 13 percent in 2021.

    An illicit rate of 17 percent equates to approximately 31.7 million illegal packs. Nearly nine in 10 of those illegal packs were classified as contraband—that is, normal commercial brands that were purchased abroad and brought into the country. A further 13 percent of cigarette packs were found to be legal but with no Irish duty paid—up 8 percent from 2021.

    The survey also found 17 percent of pouches of roll-your-own tobacco held by smokers surveyed were illegal and 10 percent were legal but with no Irish duty paid.

    In 2022, the Revenue Commissioners seized 51.6 million cigarettes valued at €39.5 million, and 11,803 kg of tobacco with an estimated value of €8.5 million.

    The agency obtained 41 summary convictions relating to the sale of illicit tobacco, four of which were on indictment with fines of €76,250 imposed.

    There were 24 convictions relating to tobacco smuggling in 2022, four of which were on indictment, with fines of €35,100 imposed.

  • Ireland Approves E-Cigarette Rules

    Ireland Approves E-Cigarette Rules

    Photo: Josemaria Toscano | Adobe Stock

    Ireland Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Public Health Frank Feighan received government approval to introduce additional restrictions on the sale and advertising of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, according to Gov.ie.

    Under the new proposals, the sale of e-cigarettes and related vaping products will be prohibited from self-service vending machines, from temporary or mobile premises and at places or events for children. In addition, advertisements for e-cigarettes will be prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and near schools.

    “These measures are designed to protect our children and young people from starting to vape,” said Donnelly. “We recognize that nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and we are acting today to make these products less accessible to our young people and to remove the advertising for these products from our children’s everyday lives.”

    The proposals will be incorporated into the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which is currently being drafted. The bill is expected to be finalized and published by year end. The legislation will be designed to regulate any product that can be used for the consumption of nicotine-containing vapor or any component of that product.

    The bill already contains measures to ban the sale of nicotine inhaling products to those under the age of 18 and to introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products. Other measures contained in the bill include:

    • prohibiting the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products by persons under 18 years of age;
    • prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines, from temporary or mobile units and at events or locations for children;
    • introducing minimum suspension periods for retailers convicted of offenses; and
    • introducing fixed penalty notices for offenses.

    Feighan welcomed the government’s approval of the measures.

    “Tobacco smoking continues to kill approximately 4,500 people in our country each year,” he said. “We recognize that nicotine inhaling products are used by some adult smokers to assist them to quit tobacco smoking. However, we are clear that these products are of no benefit to our children and young people or to nonsmokers, and that is why we are taking this action today.”