Ireland Bans Tobacco and Vape Sales from Vending Machines from Monday
Selling cigarettes from vending machines in pubs across Ireland becomes illegal from Monday as new tobacco ban takes effect nationwide.
From Monday 29 September, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products and vaping devices through vending machines or any self-service outlets across Ireland, as new public health legislation takes effect to protect children from accessing harmful nicotine products.
The ban represents the latest phase of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill highlighting the measure's importance in preventing underage access to cigarettes and vapes.
The new restrictions will affect vending machines commonly found in pubs, clubs, and other venues across Cork and nationwide, requiring all tobacco and nicotine product sales to go through staffed retail points where age verification can be properly enforced.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health:
"From Monday, September 29th, there will be a ban on purchasing tobacco, cigarettes or vapes from vending machines or any type of self-service. This necessary change will reduce the availability of tobacco products. Sometimes children have been able to access these harmful products, this is unacceptable, and this ban will ensure that this can no longer happen."
The Minister emphasised this forms part of Ireland's broader tobacco control strategy, describing it as "another significant milestone in implementing our national tobacco control policy" aimed at reducing tobacco use and ultimately saving lives.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State for Public Health:
"Protecting the health of our young people is at the heart of this legislation. We are cutting off an avenue of easy access that has been shown to contribute to early experimentation and long-term addiction. The health of our children comes first, and prevention remains one of our most powerful tools for building a healthier Ireland."
The HSE's National Environmental Health Service has prepared for implementation by working with business groups to ensure awareness of the new requirements. Environmental Health Officers will conduct nationwide inspections to monitor compliance.
Catherine Cosgrove, HSE Regional Chief Environmental Health Officer:
"The HSE's National Environmental Health Service welcomes the implementation of this legislation. To prepare for this we communicated with business representative groups working in this area and made them aware of the new legislation and what it means for their members. Environmental Health Officers are fully committed to the protection of public health through the enforcement of tobacco control legislation."
The measure aligns Ireland with World Health Organisation guidelines, which recognise that vending machines constitute a form of tobacco advertising by their very presence. Two-thirds of countries signed up to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have already implemented similar bans.
Ireland follows the lead of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which introduced vending machine bans over a decade ago. The move forms part of the Government's tobacco endgame commitments, seeking to reduce smoking prevalence to under 5% and progressively eliminate tobacco-related harm.
Earlier provisions of the 2023 Act, which commenced in March 2024, already banned tobacco and vape sales at children's events and restricted advertising near schools, cinemas showing children's films, and on public transport.
