The Government’s crackdown on vaping to protect teenagers is “so overdue”, Jonathan Healy has said.

The Department of Health is preparing a ban on the advertising of vapes, mandate plain packaging and outlaw the sale of single use vapes. 

The measures were drawn up last year and approved by the Cabinet;  however, their introduction was delayed by the November election. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Jonathan Healy described the crackdown as “so overdue”. 

 “They’ve done this in Northern Ireland - single use vapes are banned there,” he said. 

“But apparently, the Irish State is okay with teenagers who are consuming chemicals [and] they’ve no idea what is inside a lot of these vapes. 

“More importantly, you’ve got people who are taking these and becoming addicted to the most addictive substance that is freely available in this country. 

“We are so behind on this.” 

Single use disposable vapes lying discarded on the road. Picture by: Richard Newton / Alamy Stock Photo

Fellow presenter and GP Ciara Kelly described vaping as the “Trojan Horse for big tobacco”. 

“It was brought in with good intentions, to help those who were smoking get off cigarettes - so, as nicotine replacement therapy,” she said. 

“Good idea, you would think; what has actually happened is we now have hundreds and hundreds of thousands - if not millions - worldwide who have never smoked but now vape and are addicted to nicotine. 

“Many of whom, if they can’t get a vape will get a packet of cigarettes; it’s actually been a gateway to smoking. 

“It’s come full circle because, here’s the newsflash, it’s the same addiction. 

“If you’re addicted to nicotine, you can’t get a vape, you’ll take a cigarette. 

“So, instead of putting people off the cigarettes, it’s put people back into smoking. 

“So, we have more young people smoking now than we did a decade ago.” 

A disposable vape is seen on the ground. Picture by: gerard ferry / Alamy Stock Photo

Ciara lamented that Ireland was “doing really well” when it came to reducing smoking rates, with many people viewing it as an unhealthy and undesirable habit.  

“Now they’re vaping and smoking big time,” she said. 

The HSE does not recommend vaping as a way to quit smoking and notes that the practice has been linked to sleep problems, mental health difficulties and can damage a person’s heart, lungs and blood vessels.

Main image: Jonathan Healy and a teenage vaper. Pictures by: Newstalk and Alamy.com.