Local councillor says e-cigarette shopfronts advertise 'poison'

Members of the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate has slammed the prevalence of signage promoting e-cigarettes on local shopfronts.

During the most recent meeting, such signage was described by one local councillor as 'advertising poison'.

Fine Gael councillor Tom Farrell - who set forward a motion on suggesting the Municipal District writes on the matter to the Minister for Health - said that everyone needs to realise the impact such signage is having on young people.

“This signage, which is often in bright colours, is very worrying. It is attracting young people to vaping – even when they never previously smoked nicotine. I recall seeing one sign that read 'Enjoy Smoking'.

While there is very good legislation about the promotion of nicotine and tobacco related products, there is a weakness in the government's legislation regarding such advertising signage.

These products pose a serious health hazard to young people and the way I see it, is that these stores are advertising poison,” said Cllr Farrell.

Supporting his Fine Gael colleague, Cllr John Dolan said ample evidence is available to indicate vaping is having serious consequences for people's health.“It (vaping) was first seen as a way of getting off cigarettes,” he said.“But nobody foresaw what was coming – the targeting of young people. And that's what this type of advertising is doing. While government legislation improved on this, the people involved in manufacturing such products seem to be able to find loopholes time after time,” added Cllr. Dolan.

Deputy Mayor Frankie Keena (Fianna Fáil) also supported the motion, saying the government needs to do 'serious work' on the issue.

“Young people are getting addicted to these products without ever having smoked a single cigarette,” said Cllr Keena.

Cllr Farrell said the time has come to 'fight back against this'.

The council agreed to write to the Minister on the matter, as well as trying to organise a meeting with local Gardaí to further discuss the issue.