Menthol cigarettes to be banned next week

Government criticised for lack of awareness campaign on brand cull

MENTHOL cigarettes will be outlawed in Ireland from next week in a bid to cut down the numbers of people smoking.

The ban on the cigarettes will also apply to hand-rolling tobacco with mentholated filters or papers, if they come with the same product.

The hope is that by ending the sale of cigarettes with a ‘characterising flavour’ other than tobacco, fewer young people will be lured into taking up the habit.

The new legislation – which stems from EU Tobacco Product Directive laws – is part of the Government’s drive to a smoke-free society by 2030. The law comes into force on Wednesday.

Smokers have said the looming ban on menthol cigarettes here has come at the worst possible time due to the pandemic.

The group Forest Éireann, which claims to speak on behalf of smokers, said the ban could also lead to the prohibition of other unhealthy products that are currently legal but are said to be attractive to young people, including sweets and sugary drinks.

Spokesman John Mallon said: ‘Policies such as the display ban and plain packaging have tried to denormalise tobacco, but the product has always been available to adults who choose to smoke. Now, however, we’re seeing the elimination of a product many adults have chosen to purchase for decades.’

Forest Éireann said the Government has done little to inform the public about the ban which it says was introduced by the EU with almost no public debate or parliamentary scrutiny in member states. ‘We believe that a significant number of smokers are unaware of the forthcoming ban. They will be shocked when they find that their favourite brands are no longer available via legitimate retailers,’ Mr Mallon said.

‘The Government is understandably preoccupied with more serious issues but imposing prohibition on so many consumers without a proper awareness campaign is inexcusable. Awareness of the ban is minimal.’

Mr Mallon added that with the current lockdown, smokers are already going through an anxious period and that the timing couldn’t be worse for users of the brand.

And he believes the outright ban will have little effect in terms of reducing smoking numbers significantly – and that many smokers will just turn to the black market.

‘Some will switch to non-flavoured cigarettes, others may switch to menthol vapes and some may quit nicotine completely, but many will turn to the black market...’ he said.

He added: ‘The Covid-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on people’s daily lives. This is not the moment to prohibit a product many smokers enjoy and take comfort from,’ he said.

Comment was sought from the Government but had not been received last night.