Tobacco Products Display Ban to Effect Duty Free Shops

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A complete ban on the advertising of tobacco in shops came into force in Ireland on 1 July 2009. The implementation of this ban makes Ireland the first country in the EU to introduce a blanket ban.

It was expected that the Duty free shops at Dublin Airport, Cork Airport and Shannon Airport would have been exempt from the ban, but the Government failed to introduce expected legislation in time for the bans introduction. Mary Harney, Minister for Health had committed to enact a special provision before the 1 July deadline to allow duty free shops display a pictorial list of tobacco products.

The strict new legislation will also mean that cigarette vending machines can no longer accept cash and will need a purchased token in order to operate it. Tighter controls on the location and operation of tobacco vending machines are also in the pipeline and a register of tobacco retailers is being introduced.

The Government hopes the new measures will help prevent teenagers from accessing cigarettes. The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said it was a revolutionary move that will help prevent children from smoking related advertising.

“We know the tobacco industry requires hundreds of young Irish people to start smoking each week simply to maintain its customer base. For every smoker who dies or quits, the industry needs a ’replacement smoker’, a child who will become addicted and replenish the base of long-term smokers. We must break that cycle and in so doing significantly reduce the 6,500 people dying each year from tobacco use in this country.” – Eamonn Rossi – OTC Chief Executive

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has said it will comply with the law and is expectant that the special provision to allow duty free shops show pictures of tobacco products will be introduced shortly.