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FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has called on the government to consider extending the workplace smoking ban to cover vaping products.
During Leaders Questions in the Dáil this morning, Martin said there is a “vaping epidemic” that is being promoted by the tobacco industry.
Martin added that there has been a “an unacceptable level of youth usage” of vaping products and that “teen usage has risen sharply since 2017″.
His comments come after US health officials last week linked the practice of vaping 1,000 illnesses and 19 deaths across 48 states.
Martin said these were “alarming statistics” and that there has been “a flurry of legislative activity” to ban vaping products.
The Fianna Fáil leader said that the tobacco industry was seeking to get young people “addicted to nicotine once again” and he mentioned advertising for coloured and flavoured vaping products in supermarkets and on buses.
“We had been really succeeding in terms of getting young people away from the whole idea of nicotine addiction. The whole strategy here is to get young people addicted to nicotine via these vaping devices,” he said.
In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he agreed that the involvement of the tobacco industry in making vaping products was “a cause for concern”, adding that young people are indeed being targeted with advertising.
“Vaping is relatively new but it is not all that new,” the Taoiseach said adding that, “we need to look at the science and listen to the doctors and health professionals”.
“There are lots of things that you can do that are bad for you which we don’t necessarily ban the sale of or the advertising for,” Varadkar said.
We look at the extent to which they damage health and take that into account.
On the issue of extending the workplace ban to vaping products, Varadkar said the original ban was introduced to protect people from the dangers of inhaling second-hand smoke.
He said the government would definitely look at extending the ban should it be recommended based on the evidence of doctors.
At present there has been no reports in Europe similar to the incidents in the United States with inquiries into whether those injured or worse had been using black market products.
Last week, Health Minister Simon Harris said that he will bring legislation to Cabinet next month that will ban of e-cigarettes to people under the age of 18.
He also criticised lobbying by vaping company representatives in Leinster House.
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I have to say I agree with Leo on this one
@baz:
“On the issue of extending the workplace ban to vaping products, Varadkar said the original ban was introduced to protect people from the dangers of inhaling second-hand smoke.”
There is NO smoke from vaping as there is no combustion. Jesus wept. It’s water vapour and multiple studies saying harm is negligible to users and no harm at all to secondary inhalers – from water vapour. I hope the politicians look at and accept the science butI’m not holding my breath
@The Quare Fella: If it’s just water vapour, then why are the users breathing it? Why not just get a kettle? Because its not just water vapour and as a non-user I don’t want to breathe it.
@baz: the Royal College of Surgeons in London said there was zero to minimal effect. Are they not qualified enough?
Don’t vap myself, but this is getting silly, next be no more blowing bubbles for kids
@Wadi: hardly considered the same.
It’s an addiction, we should be accommidating an addiction in work places. We should be encouraging people away from this crap.
Making it more awkward to use it is part of that
@Wadi: what kind of bubbles did you blow as a kid, if you were sucking the mixture into your lungs?
@Wadi:
Clinical trials show that a small amount of nicotine can help prevent Alzheimers and Parkinsons Disease.
Nicotine does NOT cause cancer – the tar and other chemicals in cigarettes do.
@Barry Somers: By that line of thinking we should also be looking at banning Coffee in the workplace – caffeine too is addictive.
“Encouraging people away from this crap”
Right – so also ban sweets, sugar drinks and anything else we can label as “crap” that may be bad for a person?
@Barry Somers: Same logic could be applied to coffee.
@Barry Somers: what’s your favourite addiction Barry?
I notice people who have given me negative comments about vaping smoke cigarettes themselves – vaping is no way near as harmful as smoking
@Benjamin Shéamuis De Brugha: I don’t smoke or vape. I personally find both to be disgusting, and wholly welcome a ban in workplaces on vaping, in line with the smoking ban.
Worst I’ve had to deal with was getting stuck surrounded by about 6 women on a plane, all vaping and blowing the clouds into my face. Smelt horrible altogether. They were also drunk, climbing over seats, and ignoring the staff when the staff tried to make them stop. Oh, and these women were all 50+. Not even late teens or early 20s, FFS.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: that experience was down to alcohol, you’re relating it to vaping which didn’t turn those 6 50+yr olds into morons
@Mirabelle Stonegate: the vaping must have made them do it…..
@Ich bin brendan: my vape is so discreet you barely see any cloud coming out
@Mirabelle Stonegate: I call BS, all airlines don’t allow electronic cigarettes, it’s considered illegal and you can be arrested upon landing.
Presume all these passengers were arrested when they landed for drunk and disorderly, criminal damage and
@Andrew Matheson: that’s the worst part. They weren’t! I was genuinely shocked by that. This was in 2017, and yes, they all had e cigarettes. I don’t know how they were let on board with them, but they were, and I ended up stuck in the middle of that stink, which actually started causing me to wheeze slightly and sneeze lots. (I had undiagnosed nasal issues that meant it was extremely easy at the time to trigger sneezing fits in me. Because of them, I sneezed for 30 mins straight with very little stopping. And I don’t sneeze quietly. My record before that was 20 minutes straight of sneezing, so loud my teacher couldn’t teach during that time.
@Ich bin brendan: so… The alcohol caused the horrible smell that sat around us for the entire flight and at one point caused a 30 minute sneezing fit in me? (Undiagnosed nasal issues meant such sneezing fits could be easily triggered in me, particularly by strong smells.. like from 6 people vaping around me in an enclosed space).
@Mirabelle Stonegate: The only thing worse than vaping is opening a bracket and never closing it! Please fix this or I won’t sleep tonight.
Fair play for having the sneeze stopwatch out both as a child in school and at this particular ‘Vapes on a plane’ incident.
People with undiagnosed nasal issues shouldn’t be allowed on planes.
You yourself acknowledged that you “don’t sneeze quietly”.
Apart from the noise pollution, without a diagnosis, I don’t know what you’re loudly spraying into the air on that plane, what if I those six women caught this mystery illness and ended up having to vape through a special tube, unable to climb over seats as they once did, having to pay attention to staff…all because of you and your wreckless abandon when it comes to taking trips to the Otolaryngologist!
If it’s a health risk it should be regulated and restricted from public spaces.
@David GR: So alcholl and salt, sugar ect should be restricted from public spaces?
@Tom Gleeson: If I was forcing you to eat some of my sugar, salt, etc while you’re standing beside me, then yes.
Don’t forget pubs and restaurants
@Fran O’Keeffe: they’re both workplaces.
This is getting more ridiculous by the day.
Vaping is not smoking
Nicotine is no more dangerous or addictive than caffeine
There is no such thing as passive Vaping.
The Propaganda about vaping is all coming from America
@Alan.V
USA : 1,300 smoking-related deaths per day, 54 deaths per hour, or almost one death per minute.
Vaping :Zero deaths anywhere apart from a bad batch of Bootleg eliquid with vitamin E acetate and THC in the US and one in canada.
Experts who know what they are talking about : Yep that’s why. 95% more safe than smoking.
Royal college of physicians, the NHS, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Lung Society all saying the same.
Media : OMG vaping kills.
you dont need a doctor to tell you to ban vaping everywhere smoking is banned its common sense to do so
@Karl Charlie: based on what evidence?
@Brendan Hughes: based on his speculation, there is no evidence…
@Karl Charlie: And alcohol too right? Sugar and Salt too while we are at it.
@Brendan Hughes: no im not saying its dangerous, its just annoying in my opinion
How about a ban on mickey martin opening his stupid gob
Vaping shouldn’t be allowed in the workplace, take it outside. I don’t want to smell your noxious fumes.
@Rob Devine: There is no smell of pure tabacco flavor
@Carmel Moore: There is no smell from carbon monoxide either. I still would not want to be inhaling it.
@Rob Devine: gonna ban farting in the workplace soon :)
@David Gannon: or just tax it!!
@David Gannon: It’d be no harm.
@Philip Kavanagh: I’m not asking you too.l…But what is coming out of the chimney in Poolbeg?? And if you live in Dublin you are inhaling it every day the wind blows our way..
@Rob Devine: Sure thing – likewise ban deordrients and aftershave in the workplace. But send anyone smelling of BO home because I don’t want to smell that either.
Ban fish lunches and any other type of lunch anyone is offended by I guess.
Lets examine the release of Fianna Fail’s latest policies
Revenue to collect the TV license fee
Asylum seekers in the spare room of your house
Ban vaping
This guy Martin is a nut and the reason FF are not 10 points clear in the opinion polls.
When I think about Martin or Eamon Ryan, I remember all that corruption and incompetence. I remember the bank guarantee, all the cuts while the rats left the sinking ship with huge payouts and pansions.
Fianna Fail should dump Martin if they want to win an election, I could never vote for a party he was leader of
I think it should be up to the over all boss in the work place. It still has not been proven that they do harm to people around you as it is steam not smoke that comes out..
If they do harm then the new chimney in Poolbeg, which also produces steam( black/ grey) over the city. Must be doing harm also.
Also flavours ie.lemon, blueberry etc. Should be banned. These have been proven to do harm.And are targeted at the younger people…I agree noone under 28 should be sold a vape of any kind with or without tabacco..
@Carmel Moore: 18 that should be not 28
@Carmel Moore: how have flavours been proven to cause harm? Also as an adult why should I be prevented from using flavours. In my experience I know no vapers that don’t use flavours, all abandon tobacco flavoured vape within a few weeks of quitting smoking.
@Michael Wall: I’ve used a tobacco flavour since I started a few years ago. If I wanted to taste unicorn butt hole I’d eat 1. Dont have a problem with fully grown adults leaving a trail of fruity goodness after them but not for me.
@Michael Wall: Some of the flavours contain some chemical that causes popcorn lung which damages the lingingng of the lung.
I have up cigs and after been off them six mths I started vaping.. I only use tabacco flavor..
I enjoy it. Noone can smell it. No one complains..
It’s a win win situation..b
@Carmel Moore: Popcorn lung from vaping is a myth, doesn’t happen, has never happened. Only recorded instances of popcorn lung were in a popcorn factory. One flavouring was associated with the scare, not all flavours.
@Michael Wall: I’ll will read some more on it. I had seen it on a science show about vaping and it’s affects on people..The show was very positive about vaping except for this one point.
The science around vaping is still young and relatively inconclusive. In the meantime, vapers would do well to treat it the same as smoking and respect the fact that we don’t want them letting off big comedy clouds of the stuff right next to us at the bus stop. Go around the corner, move a few feet away or save some money and play with your balls instead.
@Stu Kent: as someone who capes I agree. A bit of manners goes a long way
@Mark: when I’m not caping around at night I also have a cheeky vape
You never know what could be in the vape. Poison, drugs. I hate the idea of anyone vaping an addictive substance near me so yeah ban nicotine ones and all. I’m not against them wholesale but realistically they should only be used by those trying to quit smoking and shouldn’t be inflicted on others.
@Darren Byrne: If they are doing you no harm why ban them..
@Darren Byrne: vaping is regulated under TPD. We know exactly what’s in them.
@Darren Byrne: wait you think the company I buy regulated vape juice from is sneaking drugs into them? Are you quite mad?
@Carmel Moore: I’m guessing you use a vape Carmel?!
@Mark: what do you think u are inhaling?!
@Mark: yes nicotine is a drug and I think people could easily adulterated them use them with other substances.
@Carmel Moore: If someone is beside me vaping an addictive substance at me, one known to cause withdrawal symptoms and forcing me to breath it in then use it is doing harm.
@Darren Byrne: You do know if you can smell something you are inhaling it so people drinking gin near you are exposing you to an adictive substance and forcing you to breath it in. Poor diddums, your life must be so hard.
@Tom Gleeson:
Directly inhaling nicotine into the lungs can have an acute effect on your respiratory system and neurotransmitters. Smelling the glass of scotch in somebody’s hand a similar distance away is unlikely to cause your bloodstream to magically absorb its alcohol content to a similar degree.
If second hand drinking were possible, not only would I save a lot of money but regulating for social spaces would be abundantly more troublesome.
Your science isn’t quite clever as you think it sounds. I’d suggest redressing it before sounding patronising on the internet.
@Stu Kent: And if second hand addiction to nicotine was a thing I’m sure we’d know about it, surely there would be far more smokers. I think you may have inadvertently proved Toms point.
@Michael Wall
Who cares? I still don’t want someones nicotine or exhaled excretions in my own lungs. It’s just common decency. The same boundaries of social hygiene aren’t being crossed with a glass of gin in someone’s hands next to you unless they fling it in your face, are they?
@Darren Byrne: yes there’s nicotine, it says so pretty clearly on the packaging and is the reason I buy it. So what drug is being snuck in exactly?
@Darren Byrne: you cannot breath in steam..and there is no addictive substance in it..
@Stu Kent: You cannot inhale nicotine from steam and vaping..
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: yes why?
I have no problem with people vaping. But people commenting here in support of vaping are only doing so because it threatens their habbit. All I want to say is don’t be kidding yourself. Vaping is not good for you… Like many other things and should not be inflicted upon anyone who doesn’t wish so in public places. Do as you please but not at others expense.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: Indeed, threatening a habit that has saved them from smoking. Most vapers here have done some research, are aware of facts and are sick of scaremongering.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: Who said vaping was goog for you??… It has been proven to be 95% less harmful than cigarettes. It still has that 5% of risk, which as an exsmokers I am willing to gamble on. I do agree though that vaping should be banned where smoking is banned. Its all about respect.
Vaping already seems to be banned in the same places smoking is
@Terryfeelin: Not True
@Carmel Moore: just in my local pubs and work places then.
@Terryfeelin: you have no say
Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos M.D
Research Fellow.
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Greece, Department of Pharmacology, University of Patras, Greece.
Are there any concrete statistics to show the increase in under 18 vaping vs the decrease in under 18 smoking or are we just going to listen to headlines about tobacco companies targeting kids and “epidemics”? Media sensationalism and politicians grabbing hold of the latest hot topic
Let’s be honest folks, vaping is something morons do. It’s the dumbest looking thing ever.
@Sequoia: Really hitting a small white ball with a stick doesn’t look dumb to you?
People like you disgust me. I want to ban you. Can you see where this is going?
I thought vaping was already banned for under 18′s. Any good, reputable vape shop that I have shopped in has always had a strict no under 18′s sale policy. Of course you always have the shops who don’t care. Unfortunately kids have a way of getting their hands on stuff they shouldn’t have….BUT we definitely should make it as hard as possible for them.
I don’t like to look at people vaping in pubs so they should definitely ban it
have your say