Smoking age to rise to 21 under proposed new legislation

Landmark legislation to increase the minimum smoking age from 18 to 21 is to be brought to Cabinet this week.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will seek approval to raise the minimum legal age of sale for tobacco products in a bid to reduce smoking.

The new law aims to limit the social sources of cigarettes for people under 18 as they will be less likely to be in social groups with people who can legally purchase cigarettes.

The bill will be designed so that it does not affect those who are between the ages of 18 and 21 and who are currently legally entitled to be sold tobacco products.

The prohibition on the retail sale of tobacco products will not apply to this cohort for a “wash through” period.

Although smoking in Ireland has decreased, the rate has plateaued in recent years and approximately 18 per cent of Irish adults currently smoke.

Tobacco causes approximately 4,500 deaths each year in Ireland from smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.

The Irish Heart Foundation conducted a poll in November 2021 and found that 73 per cent of all adults and 71 per cent of all those aged 18 to 24 supported raising the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21.

A 2022 Ipsos MRBI poll carried out by the HSE also found that 71 per cent agreed the Government should raise the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products to 21.

Other countries have already raised the legal smoking age, as have states in the US and provinces in Canada.