Ireland set to raise age of buying tobacco

[notmysundaybest24]

So it looks like Ireland is due to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes and other smoking products to 21.
I'm wondering do you think we will start to see changes to the sale of alcohol too eventually to anyone under 21? A few hears ago they brought in legislation that we couldn't use spend and save vouchers to purchase alcohol or earn supermarket points.

Just throwing it out there wondering what other people think.

Seeing as my Irish mother died of smoking related cancer in her 50s I’m all for this. Alcohol causes so much damage and yet is so deeply embedded in the culture, I’m interested to see where there is support for alcohol restrictions. NB mother had alcohol issues too but they didn’t manifest themselves until she was 40s.

I think Stephen Donnelly is only trying to make his name for something like Micheal Martin did with the smoking ban in work places.

I don't smoke neither do any of my family including extended family smoke but I think raising it to 21 is wrong and a waste of time.

@Radiatorvalves I'm sorry to hear about your mum.
@honeyrider I agree with you here about Stephen Donnelly.
I think we're starting to live in a bit of a nanny state. I think if you're old enough to vote, get married at 18 etc then you're old enough to make up your own mind about tobacco. If someone really wants something they'll find a way to get it.

It’s a move towards reducing the numbers of people who smoke by preventing them taking it up in the first place.

People are unlikely to start smoking after the age of 21 - it’s usually something that starts in the teenage years. I think a combination of these types of initiatives will reduce the numbers of smokers generally (which has already dramatically reduced)

it’s not a choice like getting married or voting - it’s an extremely addictive substance which causes harm to the individual and great cost on a societal level. It would be irresponsible of the government not to try and reduce the chances of people taking it up.

I do see differences between smoking and alcohol. By that I mean plenty can drink within guidelines, there is no such guidelines for smoking because where is no "safe" level.

Personally i would tax the hell out of it and restrict further as it is a horrible intrusive habit. I don't see it as a nanny state act, I see it as an attempt to reduce deaths from an easier target, which can only be a good thing.🤷‍♀️

total nanny state, detracting from way bigger issues that he should be concentrating on.

Its so ridiculous its like ireland is the test case for our EU masters. Have to be first for everything. Fgs we are so managed as a populace by our govt of " know betters" just leave people alone. No one can make up their own minds anymore !! Erosion of self decision making basically.
Erosion of freedoms
Just F O Stephen Donnelly

Briliant tweet Today regarding our betters in Govt

We've swapped the iron fisted control of the catholic church for gobshites and NGOs.

At least with the catholic church it was consistent but nowadays it's looking for what next can be controlled.

The objective (not just here) is to get rid of smoking completely. So raising it to 21 isn't an absolute, just part of the process. NZ for example is ahead of us but on this path.

I know you can argue that alcohol is similar (and tbh I don't know which is the greater cost to the health care system and in lives lost) but because of the cultural attachment, numbers who drink (versus smoke) and the acceptability of the anti-smoking policies by voters I don't think they're looking at touching alcohol or the drinking age.