The Irish government will ban the sale of vaping products to those under 18 from this Friday with a new law that provides for fines of up to 4,000 euros and jail time of up to six months.

Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced on Thursday that he will take further action next year to control the tobacco industry, while stressing that the new legislation will come into force before Christmas.

"I committed to include in a law a ban on the sale of vaping products to minors before Christmas and I am delighted that it has been possible," he said today.

Donnelly thanked lawmakers in both houses of Parliament in Dublin for their support in moving this legislative package forward "quickly", after launching a "consultative process" on the matter last November.

Looking ahead to 2024, he added, the government will consider new measures to address, for example, "the packaging and flavours" of nicotine inhalation products (such as e-cigarettes or disposable vapes), in order to make them less attractive to younger people.

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"We know that young people who vape are more likely to smoke afterwards, so it's important that they are not attracted to these products," said Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Public Health, Welfare and Drug Prevention.

The new law will also put an end to the sale of these products at events organized for minors, as well as advertising on public transport and near educational centers.

A stricter licensing system will also be implemented for businesses offering these types of products and vending machines will be eliminated.

The Republic of Ireland was already at the forefront of the fight against this addiction when it became the first country in the world to ban smoking in all public places in 2004, as an initial step towards the goal of achieving a "smoke-free society" by 2025.

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