Cabinet to discuss raising age for buying cigarettes and tobacco to 21

Almost one in five people aged over 15 still smoke in Ireland and risk devastating health consequences, it has warned

Almost one in five people aged over 15 still smoke in Ireland and risk devastating health consequences, it has warned

A memo proposing to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes and tobacco from 18 to 21 is set to come before Cabinet within weeks.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly flagged his intention earlier this month to seek government approval to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 as part of a wider strategy to create a tobacco-free generation.