Under-18 vaping rates drop by 28%, research shows
Responsible Vaping Ireland calls on Government to further enforce the under 18 vape sales ban and eradicate underage vaping before rushing to introduce more regulation
Print10 July 2025
The proportion of 15–19-year-olds using e-cigarettes daily has fallen by 28% between 2023 and 2024, decreasing from a 12.9% incidence rate to 9.3%, according to new analysis of the Government’s annual Healthy Ireland survey.
Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI), the national trade association for vaping retailers, says this is clear evidence of the positive impact of the December 2023 ban on the sale of vaping products to under-18s, a measure RVI actively campaigned for.
Lorraine Carolan, national spokesperson for RVI, said: “The proof is in the punch – this significant drop in young people vaping tells us that the under 18 vape sales ban, which was only introduced in December 2023, is working.”
Ensuring ‘full enforcement’
Carolan stated that the Government’s priority in the months ahead must be ensuring full enforcement of the under-18 sales ban.
“To date, the HSE has failed to allocate proper resources for enforcement, with just 384 test purchase checks carried out in 2024 for both tobacco and vaping products.
“We would like to see the Government increase resourcing to HSE Environmental Health and really work hard to implement this relatively new regulation, before rushing forward with the proposed vaping bill which will introduce extreme bans on vaping products,” she added.
“We understand that the Government is concerned about underage access to vapes, but the proposed bill’s plans to ban flavours could discourage adult smokers from switching and risks shuttering small businesses across the country.”
Under-18 sales ban
The law banning the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes to under-18s came into effect in the Republic of Ireland on Friday, 22 December 2023.
The new order signed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will make it an offence to sell a nicotine inhaling product, such as e-cigarettes, to a child.
The penalties can include a fine of up to €4,000 (£3,461) and up to six months in prison.
Read more: Ban on sale of vapes to under-18s comes into force on Friday, 22 December
© 2025, by ShelfLife reporter
Related Articles
Steps to a smoke-free future →
Followers 0
Fans 0
Followers