Ireland aims to become the first country in the European Union to ban smoking among under-21s.
The proposed new legislation will not apply to alternative nicotine products such as vapes because of “insufficient evidence” that they pose a health risk to adults.
The legal age for vaping was raised in December from 16 to 18, and there are currently no plans to increase it again.
It comes after a landmark report in Sweden titled “Less Smoke, Less Harm” found that nicotine does not lead to tobacco-related illness and death.
A Department of Health spokesperson told the Irish Medical Times: “At this point in time, there is insufficient evidence of health harms to adults to justify this restriction applying to nicotine inhaling products. However, the Minister (for Health) will continue to monitor the emerging evidence and keep such a measure under review.”
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the new law would make it far less likely that children and young people will be able to access “lethal” cigarettes.
He said: “This is a tough new measure, but the health impacts of tobacco smoking are immense and require tough responses. I am determined to progress legislation that will protect children and young people from this lethal product and ultimately save lives.
“I am confident this measure will help young people avoid a lifetime of addiction and illness from tobacco smoking. Analysis from the US Institute of Medicine shows that increasing the age of sale to 21 will act to limit the social sources of cigarettes for our children and young people under 18 as they will be less likely to be in social groups with persons who can legally purchase cigarettes.”
It is hoped that the new legislation will cut smoking rates in Ireland. Currently, 18 per cent of the country’s population over the age of 15 are regular smokers.
Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke kills an estimated 4,500 people per year in Ireland, as well as leading to a wide range of diseases affecting thousands more.
Chief Medical Officer Prof Breda Smyth said: “Smoking causes 13 per cent of all cancers and contributes to many preventable illnesses including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, eye diseases, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
“It’s also responsible for five per cent of hospital inpatient admissions, while the financial loss caused by smoking is estimated at €10.6 billion annually.
“Our smoking rates are still unacceptably high, so I am delighted that we are progressing a strong population protection measure that will help bring us closer to the goal of a tobacco-free Ireland.”
Ireland’s Government has set a target of reducing the country’s adult smoking rate to less than five per cent of the population.
