Adult vapers throughout the country are asking the Minister to exclude some flavoured vapes from the Government’s proposed ban on all flavours, as such a ban will lead to almost 60,000 adults returning to smoking.
Smoking kills 6,000 people in Ireland every year. Vaping is helping up to 320,000 smokers quit.
For many adults who have successfully quit smoking through vaping, flavours like mint and a selected number of fruit flavours are crucial in staying off cigarettes.
Removing these flavours punishes adults who made the responsible choice to quit smoking.
Independent research (Red C 2025) shows that 58,000 former adult smokers in Ireland could relapse if all vape flavours are banned. This is deeply concerning and entirely avoidable. (A breakdown of the impact on each county attached).
Ken Heffernan, Respect Vapers said that the proposed ban is a big win for Big Tobacco and criminals in the black market and urged the Minister to leave a few flavours available to adults who are trying to quit cigarettes.
“Adult vapers are frustrated that the Government did not listen to those who quit smoking with flavoured vapes. Over 14,000 vapers responded to the Government’s public consultation in 2024 and thousands have written to their local TDs and the Minister highlighting the problems associated with banning all flavours for adults. Yet the Minister and the Government has failed to listen to them.
“It makes more sense to listen to the voice of adult vapers now, rather than waiting to review the ban on flavours in 3 year’s time. New Zealand did and now has a short list of permitted vape flavours for adults. They have achieved one of the lowest smoking rates in the world (6.8%) through this balanced approach,” he said.
In November, the results of a Red C survey were published and circulated to all TDs and Senators.
The poll confirmed that the Government’s proposed ban on flavoured vapes will drive many ex-smokers back to cigarettes and fuel a black market for flavoured vapes.
According to the Red C survey of adult vapers:
- 33% of ex-smokers said they would return to cigarettes if flavours were banned.
- 73% said fruit flavours play a key role in helping them stay off cigarettes.
- 49% would source flavoured vapes online or from abroad if ban were introduced.
- 72% believe a ban would lead to more young people taking up smoking.
- 71% believe banning flavours would push vapers back to smoking.
Respect Vapers urges the Government to reconsider this measure and protect access to the flavours that so many former adult smokers depend on to remain smoke-free.
Note
Evidence of negative impact on a flavour ban
- Since Australia cracked down on flavoured vapes it created a black-market boom. Nicotine products being the second-largest illegal substance in the country.
- Tholos Foundation research found that when Denmark banned flavours in 2022, they remained easily available. Over 50% of Danish vapers still used flavours after the ban.
- A recent study by the UK’s Royal College of Physicians found that limiting access to flavours could prevent the use of vaping as a quit tool. This underscores the importance of giving smokers access to flavours.
- Sweden, who have led the way in relation to achieving a ‘Smoke-Free’ nation, decided against a flavour ban in 2022.
Adult vapers, many of whom were only able to quit a 30 -year addiction to cigarettes with flavoured vapes, want the Government to leave the three or four flavours that mean so much to adults, rather than banning all flavours except tobacco.
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