Flavours and Youth Initiation

• Vape Business Ireland does not support a ban on flavours as flavours play an important role for adult smokers looking for a less harmful alternative product to tobacco
• The intention of flavours is to give consumers product choice, and it is not intended for use by those under 18. There is no evidence to suggest that there is any link between flavoured e-liquids and youth vaping.  It is worth noting that Healthy Ireland’s own survey found that less than 1% of vapers were ‘never smokers’.

Dr Christopher Russell from the Centre for Substance Use Research has said, ‘Evidence from our own research suggests that a significantly higher proportion of smokers who prefer to vape non-tobacco flavours go on to completely quit smoking cigarettes within three months.’

• Vape Business Ireland does not condone any youth use of vaping products and this is borne out in our engagement with the Minister for Health and his Department of Health for the past 4 years where we have called for the urgent bringing forward of legislation to prohibit sale by, and to, those under the age of 18. In the absence of legislative measures to prevent the sale of vaping products to under 18s, VBI developed a Code of Conduct on this matter, which has been signed by all members, to ensure that if in doubt of a customer’s age the retailer/seller is encouraged to ask for identification. The Code of Conduct covers in-store sales, online sales, as well as the marketing of vaping products. VBI sets a clear expectation from its members that products are only to be marketed towards adult smokers and vapers.