Welcome locally for 'crackdown' on disposable and flavoured vapes

Concerns also on damaging impact vapes have on environment.

A local TD has welcomed proposals brought forward this morning by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to ban the sale of disposable vapes.

The proposals will also restrict the sale of flavoured vapes, which often appeal to children, as well as a ban on point-of-sale advertising displays in shops other than specialised outlets that only sell vapes.

Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Brendan Smith told the Anglo Celt that disposable vapes were “a blight on our environment”, hazardous if not recycled properly and litter communities across rural Ireland.

"It is well documented that they have a detrimental impact on the climate and our biodiversity as the lithium batteries within these vapes are a very toxic form of litter and could be releasing toxic compounds into the environment,” he continued.

"For both environmental and public health reasons, banning disposable vapes is a hugely important step that will protect younger people in particular, who often impulse buy them in shops and experiment with them."

Meanwhile, Deputy Smith pointed to the legislation in respect of the matter which, he added, “will tackle advertising displays, packaging and flavours, because these are targeted at younger people”.

"The bright colours and imagery used to promote flavoured vapes are used to attract young people into impulse purchases,” he added. "By introducing plain packaging for vapes we will reduce their appeal to youth and non-users, and by banning point of sale advertising displays we will reduce 'gateway' vaping among young people.

"The efforts of Minister Donnelly to tackle the scourge of youth vaping must be applauded. My party colleagues and I in Fianna Fáil recognise that nicotine is a highly addictive drug, and we are acting to make these products less accessible to our young people and to remove them from their everyday lives."