Ireland Raises Legal Smoking Age to 21, First in EU

Recently, according to the official website of the Irish government, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced that the government has approved legislation to raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21. The "2024 Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act" has now been submitted for implementation.

Taking this measure is aimed at accelerating the reduction of the adult smoking rate, which has remained stable at 18% for many years. This is also one of a series of actions designed to reduce the youth smoking rate to zero.

Tangna Li said:

As a society, it is time for us to move forward on this issue. Smoking still causes 4,500 deaths annually and remains the leading single cause of disability and death in our country.

The purpose of implementing this measure is to help our young people avoid lifelong addiction and illness from smoking. Models show that this measure can not only protect the target age group but also those under 18, as they are less likely to be within social groups of 21-year-olds who can legally purchase cigarettes.

Countries around the world are researching the final measures to control smoking. We are no longer regulating smoking; we are seeking to eliminate it from our lives and the lives of our children. I am proud that Ireland continues its tradition of leading the way on this issue, and today's measures are another important step towards a smoke-free Ireland.

Ireland will become the first EU country to implement this measure. To do so, a transition period will be put in place to ensure that individuals who are already eligible to purchase tobacco products, i.e. those over the age of 18 but under 21, will not be affected.

Minister of State for Public Health, Welfare, and National Drug Strategy Colm Burke expressed:

I welcome the government's approval of this very important public health measure. The harm caused by combustible tobacco smoking is catastrophic, leading to many diseases and shortened lifespan. We must take decisive action to ensure the protection of our youth.

This new measure will help the next generation avoid the many burdens of smoking, and support them in living longer and healthier lives. I look forward to working with the Minister of Health to implement this law as soon as possible.

Ireland aims to become the first country in the EU to raise the minimum age for selling tobacco products to 21. Latvia has already passed a law to increase the minimum sales age to 20 by 2025.

The proposed legislation will not affect the legal minimum age for the sale of nicotine inhalation products or e-cigarettes. Since December, Ireland has banned the sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18. There is currently no proposal to extend this ban to 21.