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Correction: The original version of this article included information, received from the Department of Health, which stated that menthol cigarettes will be banned from today. The ban will not be enforced until 2020.
NEW REGULATIONS THAT come into force in Ireland today include a ban on flavoured cigarettes.
Minister for Health Simon Harris signed the regulations, required under European Union directives, into Irish law today. The focus is on limiting the appeal of tobacco products, especially to young people.
Cigarettes with flavours like fruit or vanilla have become increasingly popular with young smokers in recent years and they will now no longer be legally available for sale. Menthol cigarettes, which represent more than 3% of the EU market share, will be phased out from today over the next few years.
Irish law now also includes regulation of e-cigarette and refill containers and stricter rules for advertising or sponsorship of these products.
The minister said these measures will further complement the Tobacco control initiatives already in place in Ireland and will help to drive down consumption.
“I also welcome the clarity provided on the regulation of e-cigarettes, which will give confidence to users in the safety and efficacy of these products,” Harris said.
He said he was delighted to hear that the UK government today successfully defended standardised packaging laws in the courts. A number of tobacco companies had appealed against the rules, which will mean cigarette packs sold in Britain will have to be olive green.
Cancer Research UK’s chief executive Harpal Kumar said this was “an important milestone in our efforts to reduce the devastating toll that tobacco exerts on so many families every day.”
“It’s the beginning of the end for packaging that masks a deadly and addictive product.”
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Mehtol cigarettes will be banned from 2020, not from today.
Headline is misleading.
http://www.businesspost.ie/tougher-cigarette-pack-rules-come-into-force/
“Flavoured products will no longer be allowed, and menthol cigarettes will be banned from 2020. “
Menthols are being phased out not exactly banned from Today! Under the new law all cigarette boxes will be one colour;green and be all have the exact same fonts and shape, logos will be banned from being placed on the boxes. health warnings with a graphic picture and text will take up 65% of the front and the back of the boxes. You wont be able to buy loose tobacco that weigh less than 30g.
For all the tobacco smokers -12.5grams are also to be phased out by May 2017.
Thanks for your comment meatyslaps.
The Department of Health announcement was that they were banned today and when I rang to double-check that with them, I was again told the ban on menthol cigarettes came into force from today. I have, however, since clarified the matter and you’re correct that they will be phased out until 2020. I’ve contacted the Department again regarding their error.
Thanks again,
Michelle
No worries, Michelle!
I had to do a bit of digging to find it myself.
So the health department under Simon Harris don’t even know they are being phased out until 2020. They insist they are banned as of today. Am reading that right..
The health department obviously didn’t read the European Commission Press release
of the 10 key changes for tobacco products sold in the EU that was published today!
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-1762_en.htm
Whatever about cigarettes I know very few rollie smokers who buy their baccy in shops.
The original article had no 2020 vision
Phased out ?? Are they available to buy in stores or not until 2020?
If you can buy heroin on any street in the country this seems a bit limp
You can’t buy heroin in a shop tho
Druggie Dave’s discount opiates open 7 days a week except bank holidays and the queens birthdat
Does Druggie Dave know how to spell?
Is the Health Minister even old enough to buy cigarettes?
Has there been any research done to influence this decision? I’m totally anti-smoking but I’d like to see us making informed decisions on tackling it. While more younger smokers smoke menthol cigarettes, do they do so for a reason? If we ban them are they less likely to smoke? Or is this, as I suspect, simply action for the sake of it?
I agree, against smoking myself but the problem isn’t menthols or packaging! The problem is that the message of exactly how bad these things are for you is not getting through to enough people…
As if people taking up the addiction will say ‘ah no, it’s menthol or nothing’. Another stupid law by the PC brigade
Insane another black market product !
The whole Anti Smoking Lobby zealots are insane, but in this case they occupy the moral high ground as such they have become arrogantly smug.
It’s funny how, on the one hand, drug laws are relaxing, but on the other, they think outlawing things that are already legal will work.
It won’t. You just put the demand for these things on the black market.
It will make purchasing those type of fags harder for teens, at the least
And thereby lose a considerable amount of revenue. But they can say consumption has fallen as a result. I don’t think consumption of tobacco products is falling at the rates claimed; although it has fallen slightly many former ‘legal’ smokers are now buying black market counterfeits – bad for government revenues, bad for the smokers. But, hey, as long as we appear to be doing something, who cares what the facts of the matter are?
How does one person have a right to ban or say you can’t smoke or use something
@Alan
I know right?! Making heroin illegal, regulating pharmaceuticals, regulating firearms. Who the hells do these politicians think they are?!
Btw…I’m a smoker. Love the smoking ban…love the plain packaging and the banning of menthols coz honestly, who gives a flying monkey’s? Won’t affect existing smokers at all -at least until 2020- and might even reduce underage smoking.
So just what are ye so angry about? Don’t think even you know to be honest.
I hate these stupid laws. PC brigade again. Why not concentrate in getting the hospitals right / reduced waiting times and people off trolleys first and then concentrate on these issues.
Maybe just maybe the way to make the hospitals run better does not start in the hospital but rather in the education of the population in the dangers of tobacco and alcohol (I do drink) , I also work in a shop where the tobacco machine is filled everyday the majority of younger people are smoking roll your own but only buy the small packs 9g 10g 12.5g , the older customers buy the 25g 30g pouches , most young ones walk away if we don’t have small pack cause they won’t pay over 7 euro
Bull. People smoke because they become addicted to nicotine, I’ve yet to meet anybody addicted to menthol! If there is people addicted to it will they also ban menthol flavoured toothpaste? The stats don’t add up people find other cheap shit to buy on black market so the government handing smokers on a plate to the illegal dealers. Are we incapable of making decisions whether to smoke drink or drive over 30kph. Next we be told how to wipe our ass.
Anthony a ban on oral sex is probably next don’t you know anything that comes out from between your legs is unhygienic?.
Don’t worry, they’ll still be available but the price might rise!!
That’s mental!
You mean its… menthol!
I think you mean menthol
Why just menthol?? Why not all cigarettes??? It has become a ‘under the counter’ product anyway.
@wjh Because then you have a soar in black market cigarettes and therefore less Government revenue.
Most people I know that smoke either buy on the black market or get their smokes in the north they’re already missing out on that revenue
A homeless man asked me for a cigarette the other day.
I took out a Marlboro menthol and offered it to him.
“Oh no thanks mate, I’m alright” was his response!
They should ban alco pops too while there at it, are they not appealing to children?
At nearly 7 euro for a 330 ml bottle in some pubs and 4 euro in the offie they might as well have. Why would kids pay that when they can have a flaggon of Aldi Cider for 3.50 or a bottle of vodka for 12 ..
You pay 7euro for 1 bottle in a pub or buy 6-7 bottles for 10euro in most off licenses.
Bad news for the remaining 5 menthol smokers…
Ridiculous !!!
How does Finian McGrath feel about this….?
His official opinion as junior health minister: cigarettes cause cancer and people are simply addicts who delude themselves into thinking they like it.
His private and personal view: they are delicious and should be more widely consumed.
Good news. These were far too easy to smoke and will hopefully encourage others to quit.
I think you’ll find they smoke just as easy as any other cigarette
I always thought they tasted manky…
Not good news at all…. whats next, banning chocolate chip cookies? coca cola? staying up past 9?
Coca Cola no longer produce 2ltr bottles in Ireland. Biggest you can get now is 1.75 ltr which is (not surprisingly) about 20c more expensive in some shops. Ireland…where you get less for more!
I smoked years ago and they never appealed to me or now I think of it I can’t remember anyone ever smoking them
@andy doyle.
Wasn’t that a decision made by coke themselves? If so its completely different to a “government” putting out blanket ban on a type of cigarette and not all of them.
So for those who like menthol ciggies there’s plenty time to stock up on menthol crystals to drop into the packets of normal fags and rollie tobacco. So what’s the deal on E-cigs? Many who people use them have enough stocks of all the ingredients they need for favourite mixes to last them a lifetime. Let them regulate away.. you can’t uninvent the wheel.
What are the new laws regarding e-cigarettes?
It’s mentioned in the article but there are no details…
Think they are looking to do away with 30ml refill bottles and meddle with nicotine strengths etc!
Thats Menthol!
My flavoured cigarette is WEED,, great tac altogether
So if I go looking for a pack of silk cut choice or pall mall today will I be told they don’t have them any more?
E-cigarettes can help prevent Parkinson’s disease and may also help with other neurological disorders and diseases like Alzheimer’s. Google it if ya don’t believe me.
Great news for lovers of health, fresh air and people who don’t stink of cancer sticks
Just vehicle fumes instead!
Guaranteed you’ll still be able to get giant bags of menthol filters for roll-ups in the street and county markets ’til the devil skates to work. Or buy ordinary ones like Swan and Rizla and a bottle of mint flavouring for cooking. Soak. Dry. Use.
Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Banned from 2020
Legislated today
More bollocks!
It may be a god move against vipe as why haven’t the biggest lobby in the world said nothing.
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