The Irish Heart Foundation welcomed the new e-cigarette tax and a €1 increase in the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes as crucial protections for children and young people from nicotine addiction.
The charity’s Director of Advocacy, Chris Macey, said: “Tax is a vital deterrent for young people to take up vaping and smoking and these measures will have a significant long-term health benefit.
“The new tax specifically targeting e-cigarettes is particularly important given the explosion of youth vaping in Ireland and fears they represent a gateway into smoking for a new generation.
“Given the fact that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet, it is unfortunate that the introduction of the tax is not scheduled to take place until mid-2025.
“However, the rate selected can have a significant impact on youth vaping rates without deterring people using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.”
Mr Macey added that the €1 increase is the biggest increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes for years and a mark of the role tax policy plays in reducing smoking rates.
The hike brings the cost of a packet of the most popular brands to €18.05.