Proposed new legislation aims to raise the legal smoking age to 21 in Ireland

In a move set to significantly impact public health, Ireland is poised to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.

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Proposed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, the legislation aims to curb smoking prevalence and addiction, particularly among teenagers. Notably, those currently aged between 18 and 21 will be unaffected during a transitional period.

Legislation to Raise Legal Smoking Age to 21 Gains Momentum

Tánaiste Micheál Martin hailed the legislation as “significant,” emphasising the need to eliminate smoking among younger generations. Concerns about vaping’s influence on youth were also raised, with parallels drawn to historical tobacco industry tactics.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland supports the move, citing potential reductions in smoking rates among teenagers by 25%. With smoking contributing to 4,500 deaths annually in Ireland alone, advocacy groups applaud the initiative as a crucial step towards public health improvement.

Pending legislation includes a ban on vending machine sales and measures to address flavoured vapes and packaging aesthetics.