THE SALE of menthol cigarettes has been banned in Ireland from today, 20 May.
The ban comes after a 2016 ruling from the European Court of Justice found that the additional menthol flavouring is used to make the cigarettes more attractive and could potentially be causing more people to begin or keep up smoking.
The ruling, made four years ago but which became law today, stated:
“Menthol, by its pleasant flavour, makes tobacco products more attractive to consumers and … reducing the attractiveness of those products may contribute to reducing the prevalence of tobacco use and dependence among new and continuing users."
Other cigarette flavours, such as those with fruit additives, were outlawed following the ruling, with the ban on the more popular menthol flavours pushed out until 2020.
The sale of menthol cigarettes has been banned in Ireland from today (Getty)While menthol cigarettes were not found to be more toxic than regular tobacco cigarettes, a study from the US FDA found that studies showed they were harder to quit due to their 'pleasurable' taste, according to The Journal.
Minister for Health Simon Harris welcomed the ban, and said that the current pandemic of respiratory illness Covid-19 "has made it more important than ever to quit".
"Smoking is an addictive and lethal habit," Minister Harris said.
"The pleasant taste of menthol masks the true taste of tobacco and might attract first-time smokers or keep people smoking who might wish to quit."
The Health Minister has previously pledged to ban certain vape flavours for the reason that they could attract younger and first-time smokers, with flavours such as candyfloss and bubblegum potentially outlawed next year.
