Calls to restrict vape sales to pharmacies have resurfaced in Ireland, after a regional health forum asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to examine whether an Australian-style model could help curb youth vaping.
It’s a move that has also raised questions about unintended consequences for adult smokers.
At a meeting of the HSE South-West Regional Health Forum, councillors from multiple parties backed a motion from Peter Horgan, calling for research into the potential benefits and drawbacks of limiting vape sales to pharmacy-only settings.
The proposal comes amid growing concern over youth use, with estimates suggesting one in five 15-16 year olds now vape.
Youth concerns drive policy push
The debate reflects mounting unease about the visibility and appeal of vaping products among young people, particularly brightly coloured devices and sweet flavours.
“The presentation we got on vaping a number of months ago probably haunts my brain every second night as I see the vaping products proliferate across society,” said Horgan.
He added that while Ireland has taken steps such as banning disposable vapes, further action may be needed: “The ban on disposable vapes is very impressive.. but the horse has bolted, so we do have to take radical action.”
Other councillors echoed those concerns. Cllr Margaret McDonnell said: “It needs to be banned in schools, pubs, all public places, because it’s gone totally out of hand with teenagers, children, adults, the availability of them is just too vast.”
She added: “They were brought in initially for people to come off cigarettes to help, and now they’ve gone worse than any cigarette smoking, because they’re available and they’re allowed in public places.”
Australia model raises trade-offs
The motion specifically calls on the HSE to study the approach taken in Australia, which in July 2024 restricted all vaping product sales – including non-nicotine products – to pharmacies.
Supporters of the Irish proposal pointed to claims that tighter access and higher prices in Australia may have reduced affordability for young people, despite ongoing concerns about illicit trade.
Horgan acknowledged these challenges but argued they may have had unintended effects: “In Australia, they have illicit trade concerns following their ban, but what has happened in the illicit black market is that it’s meant that it’s driven the price of these vaping products up so that young people can’t actually afford them.”
He added: “What I’m seeking is, can we do research on the positive and negative impacts that a ban on vaping products would have if we had it in pharmacy-only settings?”
However, the Australian model has faced significant practical challenges. Reports suggest limited legal supply through pharmacies and a large illicit market, with millions of illegal vaping products seized – raising concerns about whether strict restrictions risk pushing consumers, including adults, towards unregulated sources.
Harm reduction questions in focus
While the discussion at the forum centred heavily on youth uptake, vaping products were originally introduced as an alternative for adult smokers.
Limiting access to pharmacy-only settings could therefore have wider implications, particularly if it makes products harder to obtain or less appealing for those trying to switch from smoking.
Horgan himself pointed to the importance of understanding these trade-offs, calling for research into both the “positive and negative impacts” of such a model.
HSE response and next steps
HSE representatives emphasised that national efforts are already under way to address youth vaping through education and prevention campaigns.
“It is important to emphasise that the HSE at a national level has been very active with regard to responding to the rising youth vaping rates,” said Priscilla Lynch, IHA Manager for Cork South and West.
She said current work is “very much based on peer-to-peer messaging” and informed by research into young people’s attitudes and behaviours.
Lynch also highlighted the “Take a Breath” campaign, launched in late 2025, which provides information for parents, schools and young people about vaping risks.
The forum ultimately agreed to seek national HSE funding for a feasibility study into pharmacy-only sales, with the aim of informing future policy discussions.
Horgan said the research could strengthen the case for further action: “If we can get the request through the National HSE funding to undertake the research.. it would be important for us as a forum to go en masse to the policymakers when we have that research and advocate for that.”
The motion was passed with unanimous support.
