Ireland to ban e-cigarette use by minors under 18 starting in July

According to today's news from the Irish Times, Ireland will ban the use of e-cigarettes by individuals under 18 starting in July.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will submit a memorandum to the cabinet this week outlining the complete legislation. The new law is expected to be enacted before the summer recess of the lower house in mid-July.

This legislation includes restrictions on the types of retailers allowed to sell e-cigarettes or nicotine inhalation products, as well as measures to curb advertising of nicotine inhalation products near schools and other locations frequented by children and young people.

Donnelly is expected to inform the cabinet that there is "clear evidence" indicating that young people's exposure to nicotine has long-term effects on brain development, referencing a recently published survey of school-aged children in Ireland. These surveys include the 2018 Health Behaviors in School-aged Children survey and the 2019 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, which showed that 9% of children aged 12 to 17 and 15.5% of 15- and 16-year-olds had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Donnelly is also expected to reference a review by the Health Research Board, which found that children who use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to start smoking than others.

The government is expected to prioritize passing the bill through the Oireachtas to allow for thorough debate and discussion before submitting the legislation for President Michael D. Higgins' signature.