Smoking prevalence, vaping laws, snus in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland - country profile
- Cigarettes Cigarettes
- Nicotine Vaping Devices (E-cigarettes) E-cigarettes
- Snus Snus
- Heated Tobacco Products HTP
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy NRT
Cigarettes in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the prevalence of current smokers in the general population has decreased from 24% in 2010/11 to 18% in 2017/18. The biggest decrease during this period was in the 16-24 age group, where current smoking prevalence decreased from 26% to 15%. For men the decrease was from 25% to 20%; and for women the decrease was from 23% to 18% during the same 7 year period. Data for Northern Ireland are taken from the Health Survey for Northern Ireland. The sample for the survey consisted of a systematic random sample of addresses from which people aged 16 or over were selected to participate - a total of 3,355 interviews were achieved.
Nicotine Vaping Devices (E-cigarettes) in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of the UK and as such abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). E-cigarettes may be brought to market either as medicines or as consumer products. One e-cigarette product has been licensed to be prescribed through the National Health Service as a medicine, and it is not currently available on the market. E-cigarettes sold as consumer products are regulated under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 no. 507). This covers all of the UK, however devolved nations may choose to apply greater restrictions. Manufacturers must provide detailed information regarding all new e-cigarette products to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Advertising is allowed on billboards but not on TV and radio. Legally, there are no restrictions on where you can vape, but companies, public transport and public buildings implement their own restrictions. E-cigarettes are subject to a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT); however, if they are regulated as medicines, a 5% tax is levied instead. No 'medicinal' products are currently available.
All
Prevalence
Smoking-related mortality
Product promotion
Regulation
Availability
Regulations and restrictions
Perception of harm
Tax
Prevalence
Adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence:
6.0%
1
A
Ever tried e-cigarette vaping:
18.0%
1
A
A
Health Survey Northern Ireland. 2017/2018. Available at:https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/health-survey-northern-ireland-first-results-201718
1
Sample of adults aged 16 and over.
Regulation
A
Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
Availability
Legal to buy device online - personal use:
Yes
Legal to buy nicotine online - personal use:
Yes
Legal to import device - trade:
Yes
Legal to import nicotine - trade:
Yes
Legal to sell device:
Yes
Legal to sell nicotine:
Yes
Legal to purchase without prescription:
Yes
Regulations and restrictions
Notifications of new products required:
Yes
Child and tamperproof containers required:
Yes
Health warning on packaging required:
Yes
Minimum age restrictions on sales:
Yes
18 years
Restrictions on flavour range:
No
Restrictions on nicotine content:
Yes
Legal restrictions on use in public places:
No
Restrictions on tank size:
Yes
Snus in Northern Ireland
There are no comments specific to snus in Northern Ireland in the database.
All
Prevalence
Smoking-related mortality
Product promotion
Regulation
Availability
Regulations and restrictions
Perception of harm
Tax
Regulation
Regulatory status:
Banned
A
A
Tobacco Tactics website available at: http://tobaccotactics.org/index.php/Snus:_EU_Ban_on_Snus_Sales
Heated Tobacco Products in Northern Ireland
There are no comments specific to heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland in the database.
All
Prevalence
Smoking-related mortality
Product promotion
Regulation
Availability
Regulations and restrictions
Perception of harm
Tax
Regulation
Regulatory status:
Allowed
1
A
A
Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
1
IQOS
Availability
Products are marketed:
Yes
1
A
A
Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
1
IQOS
Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Northern Ireland
There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Northern Ireland in the database.
