Ministers Approved A Proposal To Ban Under 21s From Buying Tobacco.

Tuesday, 14 May 2024 16:09

By Emma O'Connor

Ireland will be the first country in the EU to introduce the measure

The Health Minister says raising the legal age to buy cigarettes is a "landmark" decision.

Today, ministers approved a proposal to ban under 21s from buying tobacco.

Ireland will be the first country in the EU to introduce the measure - as the government aims to bring the number of adults smoking down to 5 per cent.

There'll be no requirement for people selling cigarettes to be 21 - despite plans to increase the age at which they can be bought.

Minister Stephen Donnelly says they had considered targetting the sellers rather than the smokers, but it wasn't feasible.

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