It's estimated thousands of lives could be saved here if the age to buy cigarettes is raised. The Government is due to launch a public consultation on proposals to increase the age limit from 18 to 21.
The Irish Heart Foundation is among the health and youth organisations looking to ban cigarette sales to under 21s. Director of Advocacy at the IHF, Chris Macey, says the US raised its age limit to buy cigarettes to 21 back in 2019:
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