Rising vape and nicotine pouch use among young people demands strong action – Burke  

Legislation to restrict the sale of nicotine products is welcome but must be followed with strong enforcement, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Colm Burke said the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which comes before second stage of the Dáil today, provides a clear pathway for tackling the use of nicotine products by young people.

“Recent data shows that 13% of 12–17-year-olds are now vaping[i]. That is a clear warning sign, and we must act decisively,” Deputy Burke said.

“We are seeing rapid growth in the use of nicotine pouches, particularly among younger age groups, with usage rates highest among those aged 15 to 24.

“In Ireland, 4% of 15–16-year-olds are already using nicotine pouches, and sales have increased in recent years. These are harmful products that can contain high levels of nicotine, carrying real risks of addiction.

“For nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes, this legislation will restrict advertising, remove point-of-sale displays, and introduce tighter controls on packaging and flavour names to reduce their appeal.

“For nicotine consumption products, like nicotine pouches, the Bill will, for the first time, introduce a ban on sales to minors, along with strict controls on advertising and retail display.

“This is a strong action that will have a big impact. We cannot permit a gap in regulation that can harm children’s health to continue.”

Deputy Burke added that enforcement of the legislation will be key.

“These laws must be backed by strong enforcement. If we are serious about protecting public health, these measures must be fully implemented.

“Ireland has always been a leader in tobacco control. We now need to show the same leadership in responding to new and emerging nicotine products,” concluded Deputy Burke.