The Government has been given the go ahead to ban 7,000 cigarette vending machines and outlaw the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18 year olds.
Health Minister James Reilly took his war on tobacco a step further yesterday by securing Cabinet approval a range of radical measures which may be part of new legislation to be drafted.
The most controversial is the decision to outlaw the sale of cigarettes from vending machines and other mobile outlets which looks set to cost jobs in the industry.
He also got permission to introduce an annual licensing system for all seller of tobacco - charging supermarkets more than corner shops. Currently, a once off registration fee is all that is needed.
Other proposed measures include stricter fines for breaches of the law, putting retailers on longer suspension periods. The proposals also allow for those who flout regulations to be named and shamed.
At present, there is no minimum age in law to whom the e-cigarette can be sold to and the Government indicated last night that it is to bring them into line with traditional tobacco products.
Source: Daniel McConnell and Eilish O’Regan, Irish Independent, 25/06/14
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