This is according to research among Irish teenagers commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society and Irish Heart Foundation and launched today by Minister for Health Simon Harris.
Focus group research by IPSOS MRBI among third and fourth year students showed that they do not believe that sweet e-cigarette flavours were designed for adults only. Instead, they asserted that such flavours are strongly associated with snacks, treats and sweets that appeal to young people.
There was also unanimous rejection by teenagers of the idea that e-cigarette companies don’t design their advertising and packaging to attract children.
The Irish Heart Foundation and Irish Cancer Society have called for strict restrictions on e-cigarette flavours and advertising to be included in the upcoming legislation banning the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s.
Speaking at the launch, Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, said: “The fact that the only purpose of flavours like strawberry milkshake, cherry crush, chocolate mint and caramel is to lure a whole new generation of children into nicotine addiction has been endorsed resoundingly by the teenagers who took part in this research."
Source: Dan Buckley, Irish Examiner, 9th December 2019
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