Higher age limit for buying tobacco products 'can cut extraordinary harm' of smoking

The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024, also known as the Tobacco 21 Bill, could reduce the number of young people and children who start smoking, the IPH said.

A new law limiting the sale of tobacco products to those over 21 can significantly contribute to reducing the “extraordinary harm” smoking does in Ireland.

The change will bring a tobacco-free Ireland closer and could also benefit babies by reducing smoking among young mothers, the Institute of Public Health said on Tuesday. 

The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill 2024, also known as the Tobacco 21 Bill, could reduce the number of young people and children who start smoking, the IPH said.

Dr Helen McAvoy, IPH director of policy, said every year around 4,500 people die from tobacco-related sicknesses in Ireland.

“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,” she said.

The new law “paves the way” for further regulations to help target the unacceptable level of ill-health tobacco causes, she said.

“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,” she said.

“It will further denormalise smoking so that we see tobacco for what it is — a product that causes extraordinary harm to individuals, the wider community, and our planet."

Evidence

Hawaii was the first American state to introduce Tobacco 21 in 2016 and this became US federal law in 2019.

Dr McAvoy said the evidence shows this approach reduces the risk of people aged 18 to 21 starting smoking. It also makes it harder for younger teenagers to access tobacco.

“Evidence is emerging in the US that Tobacco 21 could result in healthier babies as the measure rapidly reduced smoking among younger mothers,” she said.

The bill was discussed in the Dáil last week and is expected to be raised again before the summer break this week.