Ireland - Clearing the Air

News

Sweden blocks EU pouch tax hike to protect its smoke-free status

Sweden has blocked an EU tobacco tax plan that critics warned would punish the smoke-free products behind the country’s sharp fall in smoking. The move turns Sweden’s smoke-free success into a direct challenge to Brussels, coming just days after the European Parliament…

News

Reach Out, Don’t Shun: What World No Tobacco Day Used to Mean

The first World No-Smoking Day fell on 7 April 1988, timed to the WHO’s 40th anniversary. South Africa wasn’t a WHO member then—apartheid had seen to that. Yet we marked the moment anyway, launching a special edition of the South African Medical…

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Ireland urged to explore Australia-style pharmacy-only vape sales

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…

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Ireland moves to tighten vape rules and regulate nicotine pouches in new bill

Ireland’s government has approved new legislation that would tighten rules on vapes and introduce regulation of nicotine pouches, as ministers push ahead with a broader package of nicotine controls. The proposed Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026…

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Catholic Church adds vapes to Confirmation pledge

Irish Catholic children preparing for Confirmation will now be asked to promise not only to avoid alcohol and drugs, but also to steer clear of vapes and cigarettes. The updated pledge, announced by the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) to mark Temperance Sunday, reflects…

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WHO chief urges Ireland to close EU nicotine ‘loopholes’ ahead of presidency

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged Ireland to use its influence at EU level to tighten regulation of nicotine products, warning of “strong industry opposition” from the tobacco lobby. In a letter dated August 22nd to Health Minister…

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Most Brits can’t identify an illegal vape, new survey finds

A new nationwide survey suggests the majority of UK adults are unable to distinguish legal vaping products from illegal ones. The findings raise concerns about consumer safety and an escalating black market following the July 2025 disposable vape ban. The research, conducted…

News Science

UK smoking rates fall to record low as vapes overtake cigarettes

The share of UK adults who smoke has fallen to 10.6 per cent, the lowest since records began in 2011. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, smoking has dropped dramatically from 25.7 per cent in 2011 to 8.1 per cent in 2024. Vaping use…

News Legislation

The UK government’s push to create a “smoke-free generation” is facing major challenges – both in the courts and on the streets.

A potential legal clash in Northern Ireland threatens to derail new nationwide tobacco laws, while new data shows that disposable vape use remains widespread despite it being banned. A new report from online nicotine retailer Haypp reveals that 62.5 per cent of…

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