Social media companies must prevent sale of illicit tobacco products – McCarthy

Revenue needs to work closely with social media companies and Coimisiún na Meán to prevent the advertising and sale of illegal tobacco products online, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Noel McCarthy, Fine Gael TD for Cork East, said that tobacco sellers are using social media platforms to bypass advertising laws for the illegal sale of their products.

“We need to see significant engagement from social media companies for better regulation and greater enforcement of these advertising laws.

“Tobacco sellers that are willing to bypass rules on advertising tobacco products, may also be willing to bypass age restrictions for the sale of their products. This is really concerning and needs to be addressed.

“Ireland has always been to the forefront in the control of tobacco products. We need to continue this by engaging with social media companies to ensure advertising of illegal tobacco products does not happen.

“Combatting the effects of marketing tobacco to young people is essential to decrease the numbers of new smokers each year.

“The sale of these illegal products undermines our public health rules and can put people’s lives at risk.

“Currently Coimisiún na Meán cannot make social media companies immediately remove illegal content. Instead, this content must be reported to the social media company and if no action is taken, then it can be reported to Coimisiún na Meán.

“Having more engagement between these groups would be another step towards reducing tobacco consumption in Ireland and supporting public health.

“Its shocking to see the illegal advertising and sale of tobacco is being allowed on social media platforms, we need to see Revenue, Coimisiúin na Meán, and all social media platforms work together to ensure this kind of content is immediately removed,” concluded Deputy McCarthy.