The Dáil is due to debate legislation that would prohibit the sale of single-use disposable vapes in the Republic of Ireland.

The proposed ban aims to address concerns around youth vaping, nicotine addiction and the environmental impact of discarded devices containing plastics, batteries and electronic waste.

The All Ireland Science Media Centre asked experts to comment.

Dr Vikram Niranjan, Assistant Professor of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Limerick, comments: 

“As a dentist and public health researcher, I strongly support the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025. Disposable vapes are a major driver of youth nicotine addiction, with robust evidence that adolescents who use them are several times more likely to start smoking tobacco. Their sweet, candy‑like flavours and easy availability make them highly attractive to children, undermining decades of tobacco control. Nicotine exposure in adolescence harms brain development, increasing risks of addiction, mood disorders, and impaired cognition.

“From an epidemiological perspective, disposable vapes are now the dominant form of vaping among young people, contributing to rising overall nicotine use without a corresponding decline in smoking. From a sustainability standpoint, they are an environmental disaster: they generate vast amounts of plastic, electronic, and hazardous waste, leaching heavy metals and lithium into soil and water, and pose fire risks in waste streams. Their production and disposal also create substantial greenhouse gas emissions, contradicting climate goals.

“This ban is a proportionate, evidence‑based measure to protect children’s health and the environment. It aligns with the precautionary principle in public health and should be swiftly enacted and enforced, alongside strong age‑of‑sale controls and support for cessation.”

Declarations of interest:  I declare no conflict in interest.

Professor Jason Power, Associate Professor of Engineering Education, University of Limerick, comments: 

“The ban on single-use disposable vapes is an essential environmental policy, aimed squarely at addressing the colossal waste of lithium-ion batteries. Millions of these devices are discarded annually, with the vast majority ending up in landfill or incineration, resulting in the loss of tonnes of valuable lithium. This precious metal is a critical resource needed to power the green transition,

“Furthermore, these improperly discarded batteries pose a severe fire risk in waste management systems due to potential damage and ignition.

“However, the effectiveness of the ban will be challenged by some manufacturers who introduce superficial “rechargeable” features as seen in the UK after the introduction of a ban in June. By adding a USB port, they attempt to classify the product as non-disposable. This change is often misleading. The devices remain single-use items, lacking a durable design and with similar cost to true disposables, ensuring they are still treated as throwaways by consumers. This highlights the challenges of defining the critical characteristics of a product when redesigns can move far faster than the legislative process.”

Declarations of interest: No perceived conflict of interest. I have previously worked on a remanufacturing project funded by the EPA, but I don’t believe this is relevant.

Associate Professor Kate Frazer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, comments: 

“Government approval of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 represents a timely, evidence-informed policy response to growing public health and environmental concerns arising from disposable vaping products. Single-use vapes (e-cigarettes) are particularly problematic because of tobacco industry marketing tactics, including low cost, high nicotine delivery, attractive flavours and convenience. These factors contribute to increased experimentation and use among young people. We know that approximately 8% of adults in Ireland use vapes, with a higher rate (18%) reported among young adults aged 15–24 years. Data from children aged 10 to 17 years reports that 15% of boys and 21% of girls have ever used vapes. Older children (aged 15 to 17 years) are more likely to report use in the past 30 days (10% of boys vs 16% of girls), underscoring upward trends in adolescent vaping.

“While the long-term impacts of vaping use continue to be studied, evidence shows that vapes are not risk-free, especially for children and adolescents. Reynolds et al. (2024) present succinct evidence from a review noting that nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can adversely affect developing brains. Vaping has been associated with respiratory irritation, asthma exacerbation and potential cardiovascular effects, with emerging evidence highlighting risks from device malfunction and toxic exposures. By targeting single-use vapes, the products most strongly associated with youth uptake and environmental waste, this Bill aligns with Tobacco Free Ireland’s key objectives, thereby strengthening protections for young people and the environment and demonstrating consistent political will and action.”

Declarations of interest:  “I’ve no conflicts of interest to declare. I did complete my Fulbright – HRB Health Impact Research Scholarship at UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education (CTCRE) in 2025, I’m an Associate Editor, Health Promotion International journal.

Dr Stella (Styliani) Vlachou, Associate Professor in Psychology, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, comments:

“The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 seeks to prohibit the sale of devices that vaporise non-tobacco substances for inhalation and that are not designed or intended to be re-used. The Bill responds to the rapid growth in the use of disposable vapes, particularly among young people, raising serious concerns about addiction, environmental damage, and wider health Impacts. 

“From an addiction perspective, single-use vapes present a clear risk due to their accessibility, high nicotine delivery, and youth-oriented design features such as bright packaging and appealing flavours. These characteristics encourage early initiation and can accelerate nicotine dependence, often among adolescents, young adults, and non-smokers. This poses a risk to normalising nicotine use and undermining decades of progress in tobacco control, with potential long-term consequences for brain development and behaviour.

“In relation to smoking behaviour, while vaping can serve as a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers, disposable vapes are not designed for sustained cessation. Importantly, the Bill does not restrict access to regulated, reusable vaping products, instead drawing a clear distinction between cessation supports and products that promote recreational nicotine use. In this way, it preserves options for smokers seeking alternatives while reducing the risk of gateway nicotine initiation.

“From an overall health perspective, the Bill reflects growing evidence of respiratory and cardiovascular risks associated with vaping, alongside uncertainty about the health consequences of long-term exposure. Limiting the availability of single-use vapes reduces population-level exposure to these risks.

“The environmental rationale is compelling and strengthens the case for action. We continuously see single-use disposable vapes littering our public areas; these types of vapes generate significant electronic and plastic waste, as they contain batteries and components rarely recycled. Prohibiting their sale aligns public health protection with environmental Responsibility. 

“Overall, the Bill represents a balanced public health measure that integrates addiction prevention, smoking harm reduction, environmental protection, and wider health consideration.”

Declarations of interest: None