Ireland to raise minimum age for buying cigarettes and tobacco to 21

If Ireland's new public health bill passes this autumn, it will come into operation on February 1, 2028. The lead-in time means those now entitled to buy tobacco products — aged between 18 and 21 — will not be affected. iStock

Legislation to raise the smoking age to 21 will come before the Dáil on Thursday.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will commence the passage of the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024 through the Oireachtas at second stage in Dáil Éireann on Thursday afternoon. The bill will increase the minimum age of purchase of tobacco products to 21, which will make Ireland the first country in Europe to do so.

It is envisaged that the bill will pass the Oireachtas in the autumn and come into operation on February 1, 2028. 

This is designed to allow a lead-in time so that those already entitled to be sold tobacco products — those over 18 but under 21 — will not be affected.

The current penalties for anyone convicted of selling tobacco products to people under the age of 18 will be extended to cover convictions relating to sales to people under the age of 21, including fines of up to €4,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both, for a first offence.

Mr Donnelly said that he was "delighted" to bring the bill forward "in order to protect the health of our population".

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.

Although smoking in Ireland has decreased, the rate plateaued in recent years and 18% of Irish adults currently smoke.

The Government’s Healthy Ireland survey found that in 2023, 14% were daily smokers and 4% occasional smokers. These figures are the same as those reported in 2021 to 2022. 

Tobacco causes approximately 4,500 deaths each year in Ireland from smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.