Disposable Vapes Ban Approved By The Irish Cabinet

The Irish government is moving forward with plans to ban the sale of disposable vapes after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly secured Cabinet approval to draft new legislation targeting nicotine inhaling products. The proposed Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill will prohibit the sale, manufacture, and import of disposable vapes in Ireland as part of broader efforts to address public health and environmental concerns.

Under the new legislation, the flavours of disposable vapes will be restricted to tobacco, with the possibility of adjusting the list of approved flavours based on emerging evidence. The bill also proposes to ban the display and advertising of disposable vapes and vape products at points of sale, except in specialised stores that sell these products exclusively or predominantly.

Minister Donnelly emphasised that the measures are necessary to protect both public health and the environment. He highlighted the growing popularity of inexpensive disposable vapes among younger users, noting that their improper disposal contributes to environmental harm due to non-recyclable plastics and batteries.

“This legislation will tackle the rise in the use of disposable vapes among children and young people by reducing their attractiveness and availability,” Donnelly stated. He underscored the dangers of nicotine addiction and the unknown long-term health effects of vaping, stressing the need for prompt action. “Nicotine is addictive, and the long-term effects of these products are not yet known, so it is important to act,” he added.

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While Donnelly acknowledged that some adult smokers use vapes to quit smoking, he clarified that non-disposable nicotine inhaling products would remain available. Speaking ahead of the Cabinet meeting, he noted the need for stricter regulations, including limits on vape flavours and packaging designed to appeal to younger audiences.

“There are over 15,000 flavours. We know some of them are targeted at children. We know a lot of the colouring and the packaging is targeted at children and young people,” Donnelly said. “We want to make sure that we keep children safe.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris also voiced his support for the proposed ban, labelling vaping as “the revenge of the tobacco industry.” Harris expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of vaping among young people, noting that around 13% of 12 to 17-year-olds have vaped in the last 30 days.

He emphasised the need for legislative action, urging all parties to support the bill’s passage. “We live in a country where around 13% of people between the ages of 12 and 17 have vaped in the last 30 days. We need to take action in relation to that,” he said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin echoed these sentiments, highlighting the parallels between vaping and traditional smoking in terms of health risks. “I’ve long fought for and pursued the issue of vaping because I think it is smoking mark two, in terms of the health of the nation,” Martin said. “We really need to protect younger people, in particular, from the harmful effects of vaping.”

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VBI spokesperson Paul Malone called for a more measured approach, emphasising enforcement of existing bans on underage sales of disposable vapes and introducing regulations on packaging to deter youth appeal.

However, the proposed measures have sparked criticism from the vaping industry. Vape Business Ireland (VBI) described the proposals as “extreme,” warning that such bans could drive vapers back to smoking, fuel the black market, and encourage cross-border sales.

Malone urged the government to reconsider, warning that the proposed bans would harm small businesses and push consumers towards unregulated sources. “All the Government will be doing is hurting small businesses and making it harder for people who are trying to quit smoking,” he argued, advocating for targeted regulations rather than sweeping prohibitions.

As the legislation moves forward, the debate continues between public health advocates seeking to curb the use of disposable vapes among youth and industry voices cautioning against unintended consequences.