More than eight in ten people in Ireland support lifetime tobacco ban for children, research finds
Over eight in ten people in Ireland are in favour of a ‘lifetime ban’ on children buying tobacco products, according to new research.
The UK passed legislation recently, which means anyone born after 2009 will not be allowed to purchase tobacco products in their lifetime. This will leave a massive imbalance in tobacco control laws North and South of the Border.
In Northern Ireland, 74% of people surveyed wanted an all-island ban, with just 10% of respondents against this.
The burden of enforcing the new legislation in the UK will fall on the retailers, who will face fines if they do not comply.
In the Republic, currently, 12% said that they smoked every day, and 4% smoke but not daily. Among smokers surveyed, 70% of them were in favour of the lifetime ban.
The Irish Heart Foundation are launching the Smokefree Generation Alliance in Dublin and wants the Government to replicate the UK’s lifetime ban.
Mark Murphy, interim Director of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation, said: “It’s often forgotten how devastating the impact tobacco has on our society.
“Smoking still kills 4,500 people each year in the Republic and over 2,000 die annually from smoking-related illnesses in the North. Achieving a smoke-free generation on both sides of the Border would absolutely transform public health. Future generations will be saved from the enormous harms tobacco causes.
“We can’t have a scenario where children in the Republic are less protected than those in Northern Ireland.”
Fidelma Carter, Director of Policy, Research and Prevention with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, believes it is a significant opportunity for all-island alignment.
“Northern Ireland’s smoke-free generation legislation is a landmark opportunity to protect children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction before it starts - and to gradually put an end to the sale of tobacco in Northern Ireland.
“The Republic has taken bold steps - licensing retailers and protecting children and young people through its move to Tobacco 21. Now is the time to bring an 'endgame' for tobacco by having a unified approach to the gradual eradication of the sale of tobacco across the island."