The UK made history at the end of April when it passed the Tobacco and Vapes Act. This landmark piece of legislation has two key features that will have global health implications and consequences for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  

Firstly, the Act prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after the 1st of January 2009. As this age group gets older, they can never legally be sold tobacco. So over decades, a smokefree generation becomes a smokefree society. 

Secondly, the Act strengthens the regulation of vapes and other nicotine products, especially where products are cynically designed and marketed to target children.  

Writing in today’s Irish Times, (Tuesday, the 25th of May), the Irish Heart Foundation’s interim Director of Advocacy, Mark Murphy, called on the Government to follow the UK and bring in legislation to create a smoke-free generation.  

According to Murphy, the time is right for Ireland to begin laying out plans for a tobacco endgame. As the bill will apply to all four regions of the UK – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – it means that children in Northern Ireland will have greater protections from tobacco and nicotine harm than those in the Republic of Ireland. 

The Irish Heart Foundation believes that all-island alignment is essential. 

‘As the only EU country to share a land-border with the UK and one with deep ties going back generations, it is vital for Ireland to follow suit,’ said Mark Murphy.  

‘Banning the sale of tobacco products to children born after a certain year would be utterly transformative for Irish society and our healthcare system’ Murphy added.  

Tobacco use causes 4,500 premature deaths annually in Ireland. Every week, smoking kills nearly 100 people and causes 1,000 hospital admissions due to preventable heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancer.i  

Sadly, despite being a traditional leader in tobacco control, 17% of the Irish population or over 800,000 people still smoke. More alarmingly is that 12% of Irish teenagers smokeii while the reduction in smoking has stalled since 2019. 

‘Not only does smoking destroy lives, families, childhoods, and take our loved ones from us early, it places a colossal burden on our healthcare system,’ said Murphy.  

Smoking is a generational crisis, causing heart disease and stroke, and leading to premature death and disability. As the national stroke and heart charity, the Irish Heart Foundation believes it does not have to be this way. 

There is a future without tobacco, free of its devastating health harms. The UK has set the benchmark, and it is vital that Ireland follows.  

Fortunately, the Irish public are overwhelmingly in favour of a Tobacco Endgame. A 2022 HSE poll shows that 83% of the public support a complete phase out of tobacco product sales, while a 2023 Irish Heart Foundation Ipsos B&A poll shows 76% support children born after a specified date never being able to buy cigarettes legally.iii iv 

On vaping, Ireland is already moving in the right direction. Two bills are progressing through the Oireachtas that will ban disposable vapes and bring in stronger regulations on e-cigarettes, including the complete ban on all e-cigarette flavours bar tobacco and unflavoured, which is to be hugely welcomed.  

For years, the Irish Heart Foundation has been campaigning for more robust restrictions on e-cigarettes to make them less appealing to children and non-smokers. These two pieces of legislation will strengthen regulations of vapes. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin showed historic leadership by introducing the world’s first national Workplace Smoking Ban in 2004. As Ireland takes up the EU Presidency on the 1st of July this year, the Irish Heart Foundation believes it is an opportune moment for Ireland to follow those bold steps taken two decades ago and announce plans for the EU’s first smokefree generation across the island of Ireland.  

To view the full article from the Irish Times, please follow the link here.