Ireland Prohibit Vending Machine Sells Vape and Tobacco Products

On September 29th, Ireland implemented new regulations related to cigarettes, vapes, and tobacco products, prohibiting the sale of such products through self-service vending machines. The aim is to reduce smoking rates to below 5% and reduce access for minors under 18 years old. The new regulations are part of the government’s overall control plan.

Irish Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill stated that this move aims to reduce Ireland’s smoking rate to below 5%.
The official has confirmed that the above new regulations will officially come into effect on September 29th.
Minister Carol McNeil point out that the core goal of the ban is to reduce the access of minors under the age of 18 to such products.

This new regulation is part of the overall tobacco and nicotine control plan launched by the Irish government to reduce the number of smokers and vape users nationwide.
The latest data from the Central Statistics Office of Ireland shows that approximately 18% of the Irish population still engages in smoking behavior.
Previously, it was reported that the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, a subsidiary of the Irish Health Services Authority (HSE), had refused to provide assistance to vape users who were willing to quit smoking.

The Smoke Free Ireland Plan was established in 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland in the Health Services Implementation Plan, with the aim of improving public health, enhancing well-being, and reducing smoking.
In a parliamentary inquiry, Martina Blake, the head of the “Smoke Free Ireland Plan,” told Labour MP Marie Sherlock that the plan currently has no resources to address issues related to vapes.
She said, “We do not have capacity to deliver stop vaping care and are not resourced to do so”.