Ireland is cracking down on the sale of vaping products to children with a hefty new fine. Sellers caught offering nicotine-inhaling products like vapes at events aimed at kids could now face an on-the-spot penalty of €2,000.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced this tough measure as part of ongoing efforts to protect young people from the health risks associated with vaping and smoking. The fine is just one piece of a larger strategy to regulate tobacco and nicotine products in the country.
“The urgency is to save lives that are being lost because of a common commercial product that kills,” Donnelly stated, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
This move comes alongside other planned regulations, including:
- A ban on single-use vapes
- New rules for vape packaging and flavors
- Restrictions on how vapes are displayed in stores
In a bold step, Ireland is also considering raising the legal age for buying tobacco to 21, which would make it the first EU country to do so.
According to The Journal, these actions are part of a broader push to help smokers quit and prevent new smokers from picking up the habit, especially among the younger population. With these measures, Ireland aims to set a new standard in tobacco and nicotine control within the European Union.Last edited 2 minutes ago