The legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products is set to rise from 18 to 21, under new legislation being introduced by the Minister for Health.
Stephen Donnelly will this week seek Cabinet approval for the legislation to increase the legal age by three years.
Raising the minimum legal age of the sale of tobacco products is expected to lead to a significant reduction in smoking prevalence and addiction. According to the"Tobacco 21" report by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Policy Group , experimentation with smoking is highest among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17.
Director of Advocacy and Patient Support with the Irish Heart Foundation described the legislation as one of the most important healthcare measures in recent times.
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