The Tobacco 21 Alliance today (November 7) welcomed the passing of a Bill which will increase the legal age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21
The coalition, made up of health and youth organisations, including the Irish Heart Foundation, the RCPI and Foróige, has been campaigning since 2022 for Ireland to introduce the measure.
Passing of the Public Health (Tobacco) Bill 2024 through the Dáil and Seanad will make Ireland the first EU country to raise the legal age of sale of tobacco to 21.
“Increasing the legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 has been shown, by evidence, to reduce smoking, deter young people from initiating tobacco use, and ultimately save lives,” said Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation.
‘’Ireland has always been a global leader in the fight against tobacco and becoming the first country in the EU to introduce Tobacco 21 is a landmark achievement.”
The Bill will now proceed to the President for consideration and signature and will take effect on February 1, 2028, allowing a transition period to ensure that 18-20 year olds, currently entitled to purchase tobacco, are not impacted.
A HSE survey previously showed that 71% of the public were in favour of increasing the legal age from 18 to 21, with 72% of 15-17-year-olds and 66% of 18–24-year-olds backing it.
The Tobacco 21 Alliance includes the Irish Heart Foundation, ASH Ireland Council of the Irish Heart Foundation, Foróige, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, the Asthma Society of Ireland, COPD Support Ireland, the Irish Thoracic Society, the Association of Public Health Medicine Registrars Ireland, the Environmental Health Association of Ireland, the Irish Cancer Prevention Network (Irish Cancer Society, Marie Keating Foundation, National Cancer Control Programme, National Cancer Screening Service, Breakthrough Cancer Research), and the Comhairle na nÓg Youth Councils of Limerick, Fingal, Kildare, Wicklow, Roscommon, Donegal, and Kerry.
