A new law restricting the sale of tobacco products to adults over the age of 21 will significantly contribute to achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland. The Institute of Public Health (IPH) stated this week that the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024, also known as the Tobacco 21 Bill, has the potential to reduce the number of children and young adults starting to smoke. This would bring Ireland closer to its goal of having less than 5% of the population smoke.
Background
Currently, 18% of the population aged 15 and over are smokers in Ireland, a rate that has not declined since 2019. Various surveys have also revealed concerning trends in youth smoking in Ireland. A 2024 Eurobarometer report showed that children in Ireland start smoking at a younger age than the European average. Additionally, 2019 ESPAD survey data indicated an increase in smoking rates among 16-year-old boys in Ireland.
Impact of Early Smoking
People who start smoking at a younger age are more likely to continue smoking throughout their adult lives. Raising the minimum age of sale to 21 will make it harder for children and young people to access tobacco products, thereby reducing the number of new smokers and the prevalence of tobacco addiction.
Legislative Progress
The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024 was discussed in the Dáil last week and is expected to be raised again before the Oireachtas goes into summer recess. This measure places Ireland on course to be the first country in the European Union to raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco to 21 years.
Global and European Trends
A minimum legal age of sale of 21 is already in place in several countries worldwide. Other European countries are considering similar measures. For instance, Latvia will implement a legal age of sale of 20 in January 2025, while Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Finland are also considering age of sale measures. Tobacco 21 was first introduced in two US states in 2016 and became nationwide US federal law in late 2019.
Public Support and Health Benefits
A 2022 ‘State of Tobacco Control’ HSE report highlighted the need for more ambitious measures to reduce smoking rates in Ireland. Public opinion surveys show significant support (70%) for raising the minimum legal age of sale to 21 years. The measure has also been supported by the Tobacco 21 Alliance and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Expert Opinions
“Every year, one in two smokers, or around 4,500 people, die from tobacco-related diseases in Ireland,” said Dr. Helen McAvoy, IPH Director of Policy. “The Public Health Tobacco Amendment Bill 2024 aims to reduce smoking among children and young people. This marks a positive step towards the Government’s tobacco endgame ambition. Tobacco 21 paves the way for future regulations to reduce the unacceptable level of ill-health caused by tobacco use.”
“This progressive public health measure will make a significant contribution to achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland, while also reducing health inequity and demand on health services. It will further denormalize smoking so that we see tobacco for what it is – a product that causes extraordinary harm to individuals, the wider community, and our planet,” Dr. McAvoy added.
Dr. McAvoy also emphasized that evidence shows Tobacco 21 reduces the risk of 18- to 21-year-olds starting to smoke and decreases the accessibility of tobacco to those under 18. Emerging evidence from the US suggests that Tobacco 21 could result in healthier babies as the measure rapidly reduced smoking among younger mothers.
