web counter
LEXO PA REKLAMA!

SHKARKO APP

App Store
Google Play

Ireland is expected to raise the age of tobacco buyers to 21

2024-05-14 17:32:00, Kosova & Bota CNA
Ireland is expected to raise the age of tobacco buyers to 21
Illustrative photo

Ireland is set to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco to 21, according to draft legislation introduced on Tuesday.

If finalised, this will be the highest age limit for smokers in the European Union.

Government officials have said the proposal to raise the minimum age to 18, where it is now, has been approved by the Cabinet and is aimed at reducing the number of young people buying cigarettes.

Latvia introduced a law to raise the minimum age of tobacco buyers to 20 in 2015.

In most EU countries, the age limit for buying tobacco and alcohol is 18, while in the United States it is 21

In 2004, Ireland was the first in the European bloc to ban indoor smoking, and many other countries have followed suit.

According to the Department of Health in this country, 18 percent of the population over the age of 15 are tobacco users.

According to Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who introduced the initiative, US data shows that raising the minimum age to 21 "will limit the social resources of cigarettes" among young people.

"They will have less opportunity to be in social groups with people who can legally buy cigarettes," said Donnelly.

He said that the data show that people are most likely to start smoking cigarettes in the 18-21 years old period.

If approved, the law will not apply to the sale of electric cigarettes./Rel





Lajmet e fundit nga