Irish doctors want to increase price of 20 cigarettes to €13.70 and ban kids from buying e-cigs

Doctors want another €1 slapped on a packet of cigarettes - and children banned from buying e-ciggies.

The increase, if adopted, would set smokers back €13.70 for a packet of 20.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s Policy Group on Tobacco says the Government also needs to take firm action on e-cigs by pumping more money into researching their health effects.

In its pre-Budget submission, it wants under-18s banned from buying the devices because of their nicotine content.

Dr Des Cox, chairman of the Policy Group on Tobacco at RCPI said: “Over the past few years, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among young people in many countries.

It's said one student had brought a vape pen into the school and shared it to three of his friends (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“Urgent action needs to be taken in order to prevent this phenomenon transposing to Ireland.

“Although e-cigarettes are considered to be less harmful than tobacco smoking, exposing young people to nicotine through the use of electronic cigarettes is a significant health concern.

“Nicotine is highly addictive and is particularly harmful to the developing brain and other organs of the body.

“We are calling for research funding to examine the role of e-cigarettes in tobacco cessation and to examine their health effects, particularly in young people.

Electronic cigarette

“We are also calling for the proposed legislative measures on prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s to be fast-tracked through government as a matter of urgency.”

The group is also calling for a minimum increase of €1 on a packet of 20 regular cigarettes and says:

• Removal of the price differential between roll your own products (RYO) and cigarettes is also a priority;

• A substantial increase in funding for advertising campaigns promoting an anti-tobacco message is Increased investment is also needed in tobacco cessation programmes

• It is recommending a research fund of approximately €500,000 over the next five years

be created for the purpose of generating new tobacco control measures that will support the government in its move towards the goal of a tobacco free Ireland.

Dr Cox added: “We know that over half (57%) of smokers are considering quitting and most of those who have tried to quit have done so because of the impact on their health.

“We need to encourage them and make cessation methods available and affordable to them, by resourcing smoking cessation programmes and products.”