Smokers may be banned from lighting up in outdoor dining areas as public consultation on tobacco crackdown begins

Smokers could be banned from lighting up in outdoor dining areas and vapes may have to be hidden from view in shops as a public consultation on smoking-related laws opens.

A potential ban on smoking cigarettes in outdoor dining areas and extending more restrictions to vaping are among the new proposals put to the public today.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Health Minister Hildegarde Naughton have issued a public consultation which could result in a more radical crackdown on smoking and vaping.

They said: “vaping has become more popular in recent years, particularly among young people. Compared to cigarettes, vaping may be less harmful, but vaping is not harm free. Most vaping liquids contain nicotine.

Legislation to ban vaping products to under 18s is currently before the Oireachtas with measures on preventing young people from beginning to smoke or vape to protect their health.

This consultation looks at what additional measures could be introduced to decrease the appeal of nicotine inhaling products to children and young people and further denormalise smoking.

The areas where views are being sought include the display of nicotine inhaling products in shops, nicotine inhaling product flavours, the appearance of nicotine inhaling products, proxy sales of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, smoking in outdoor dining areas, extending smoke-free restrictions to vaping and increasing the age of sale for tobacco products as well as increasing the price of vapes

Mr Donnelly said: “While I understand that e-cigarettes are used by many adults who are trying to quit smoking, I am deeply concerned by the rise in popularity of vaping among young people. These products clearly appeal to children and young people, and we do not yet know the long-term health impacts of their use.

“We have already taken strong action and will have legislation in place by the end of this year, which will ban the sale of e-cigarettes to children and require a licence to sell them.

“I would now like to invite the public to comment on other aspects such as packaging, display and flavours. We also know that effective actions on public health issues require a whole of Government approach, which is why we are asking for people’s views on increasing the price of vapes. This will help to inform my colleague, Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, on how best to approach the taxation of these products to support our public health goals.

“This consultation will help us make effective decisions to protect our children from an addictive product, while reducing the extreme harm caused by smoking.”

Minister Naughton added: “We know that young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke, so it is important that they are not drawn to these products.

“We can clearly see how some vaping products might be targeted at children or younger people by virtue of their exotic flavouring and colourful packaging”.

The public consultation is open for six-weeks to January 5 with more information on Department of Health website.

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