Cigarettes in Ireland
The overall trend for prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Ireland has been downwards since 2006. 19% of the population in Ireland were current smokers in 2017, down from 29% in 2006. Smoking prevalence reduced steadily during this period, with the exception of 2006-2009 where there was a 2% increase. These data come from the Eurobarometer surveys, the most recent of which was carried out in 2017. In the most recent survey a total of 27,901 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at home, in their mother tongue, across all 28 of the EU countries. The sample for each country is representative, however the sample sizes are relatively small (e.g. most countries had just over 1000 participants, but for Italy, Malta and Lithuania the sample was around 500). Nevertheless, the Eurobarometer surveys are useful as they have estimates for smoking prevalence collected over a number of years which can show trends, as described here.
Tobacco smoking prevalence
Number of current smokers:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (female):
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (male):
(1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Smoking-related mortality
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Nicotine Vaping Devices (E-cigarettes) in Ireland
The Republic of Ireland abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). The law relating to e-cigarettes is Statutory Instrument No. 271 of 2016, European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products. Vaping is not officially prohibited in public places, but many locations have imposed their own vaping bans. Domestic advertising is permitted within the confines of EU law and cross-border sales remain legal providing the retailer is registered with the government.
Prevalence
Adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence:
Ever tried e-cigarette vaping:
Healthy Ireland Survey documents. https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/231c02-healthy-ireland-survey-wave/ (2019).
Product promotion
Advertising is regulated:
Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.
Regulation
Regulated as medicinal product:
Regulated as tobacco product:
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 purchase without prescription:
Regulations and restrictions
Notifications of new products required:
Child and tamperproof containers required:
Health warning on packaging required:
Minimum age restrictions on sales:
Restrictions on nicotine content:
Legal restrictions on use in public places:
Restrictions on tank size:
https://ec.europa.eu/health/tobacco/products/revision_en
Perception of harm
Not harmful, or less harmful than cigarettes:
Harmful, or more harmful than cigarettes:
Reference: European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
Question asked in this survey did not compare harmfulness with cigarettes. The question used was 'Do you think they are harmful to the health of people who use them?' 59% - YES, 27% - NO, 14% DON'T KNOW
Snus in Ireland
There are no comments specific to snus in Ireland in the database.
Regulation
Tobacco Tactics website available at: http://tobaccotactics.org/index.php/Snus:_EU_Ban_on_Snus_Sales
Availability
Legal to import product for trade:
Legal to import product for personal use:
Legal to buy product online:
Heated Tobacco Products in Ireland
Heated tobacco products must comply with existing tobacco control legislation in Ireland.
Availability
Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Ireland
There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in Ireland in the database.
Product promotion
Consumer Health: Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics. Date Exported: 8/9/2019. (c) Euromonitor International 2019
Availability
Legal to purchase without prescription:
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).