Smoking age to rise to 21 with introduction of new Bill

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, will introduce the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024 to the Oireachtas this Thursday.

The bill, to be presented this afternoon in Dáil Éireann, aims to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21, starting February 1, 2028.

This allows time for those currently aged 18-20 to be unaffected.

Penalties for selling tobacco to anyone under 21 will match current penalties for sales to minors under 18, with fines up to €4,000 or six months in prison, or both, for a first offence.

This bill is part of ongoing efforts to reduce smoking rates and discourage youth from smoking.

Minister Donnelly said: “This legislation, which includes provisions for strong penalties, clearly signals that we are moving to endgame in our war on combustible tobacco. These products are addictive and lethal, killing two out of every three users, reducing life expectancy by an average of 10 years and causing an enormous range of preventable illness and disability.

“Ireland has long been a world leader in tackling smoking, beginning with the workplace smoking ban in 2004 and continuing with a range of measures including restrictions around the sale, advertising and packaging of smoking products to make them less attractive and less available to young people.

“We know from evidence internationally that raising the minimum age of sale of tobacco products to 21 is likely to deter teenagers from initiating smoking, and is likely to lead to a 12% absolute reduction in smoking prevalence. To protect our young people, we continue to push forward towards our goal of a tobacco-free Ireland.”