Ireland Vape Flavour Ban: Seanad Vote Wednesday 21 October, 3pm – What's in the Bill and How to Stop It

Ireland is about to make one of the biggest changes to vaping in Europe. A new law, the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026, would leave adult vapers with only two legal flavours: tobacco and unflavoured.

Fruit, ice, dessert, drinks, sweets and every other flavour would be gone from Irish shops.

The bill has already passed the Dáil. Its Committee and Remaining Stages in the Seanad are on Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 3pm. That is the last chance for Senators to change or stop it. This page explains exactly what is in the bill, what happens next, and how you can make your voice heard before the vote.

What the bill would do

The bill was brought forward by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. If it becomes law, it would:

1. Limit vape flavours to tobacco or unflavoured. Every other flavour would be banned from sale. The Minister would also have the power to change the list of allowed flavours by regulation later.
2. Ban flavour descriptions. Only basic flavour names would be allowed on vapes. No descriptive or "fun" language.
3. Restrict colours and pictures on vape devices and packaging.
4. Ban devices that look like other things, such as toys or games.
5. Ban advertising of vapes and nicotine pouches inside all shops.
6. Ban displaying vapes and pouches at the till in mixed shops such as supermarkets, garages and newsagents.
7. Ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s. We fully support this part. We already ID our customers.

Does the flavour ban cover nicotine pouches?

The flavour limit in this bill applies to nicotine inhaling products like vapes, e-liquids and pod kits. Nicotine pouches are covered by the under-18 sales ban and the shop advertising and display rules, but not by the tobacco-or-unflavoured flavour limit.

Is this the same as the disposable vape ban?

No. That is a separate law. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Act bans the sale of disposable single-use vapes and has been signed into law. The flavour ban is a different bill, and it would apply to all vapes, including refillable kits, pods and bottled e-liquid.

Read more: Are disposable vapes being banned in Ireland?

What happens on Wednesday, and after

1. Wednesday 21 October, 3pm: Seanad Committee and Remaining Stages. Senators go through the bill, debate any changes and vote on it.
2. If the Seanad changes it, it goes back to the Dáil to agree the changes.
3. If it passes, it goes to the President to be signed into law.
4. Start date. The rules only come into force when the Minister for Health sets a start date. Shops would then have to stop selling banned flavours.

Once a law is passed, it is very hard to undo. This week is the time to speak up.

Why we're against the flavour ban

I'm Eoin O'Boyle. I've run OB Vape, a family-run shop in Drogheda, for eight years. I've spoken at the Oireachtas Health Committee about vaping. Here's what I see every day:

• 94% of our customers choose flavours. These are adults. Most of them are ex-smokers who chose a vape because it doesn't taste like a cigarette.
• Some will go back to smoking. Take away the flavour that helped them quit, and some adults will drift back to cigarettes.
• Others will go to the black market. Illegal sellers don't check ID, don't pay tax and don't care what's in the bottle. A ban hands them every flavoured customer in the country.
• It punishes the shops doing it right. Responsible Irish retailers check ID and follow the law. The problem is the sellers who don't.

What the government says

To be fair to the other side: the government's case is that fruity flavours, bright colours and toy-like devices make vapes appealing to children, and that limiting flavours will cut youth vaping. We agree that no child should ever vape. We just believe the answer is enforcement, not taking flavours away from adults who quit smoking.

What we want instead

• Strict ID checks in every shop that sells vapes, with real penalties for selling to under-18s.
• Proper enforcement against illegal and unlicensed sellers.
• Keep flavours for adults who use them to stay off cigarettes.

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Change the details to your own story. One honest paragraph about your life is worth more than any statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy flavoured vapes now?

Yes. Nothing has been banned yet. All flavours are legal to sell to adults aged 18 and over until a ban actually comes into force.

Will menthol be allowed?

The bill limits flavours to tobacco or unflavoured, so menthol and ice flavours would not be on the allowed list unless the Minister adds them by regulation.

Will my vape kit still be legal?

The flavour limit is about what's in the liquid, not the device itself. However, the bill also restricts colours, imagery and toy-like designs on devices and packaging.

When would the ban start?

No start date has been set. It would begin when the Minister for Health signs a commencement order after the bill becomes law.

Who should I contact?

Senators first, because the bill is in the Seanad. Your local TDs too. You can find all of them at oireachtas.ie.

Continue reading

• Vape flavour ban Ireland: the best tobacco e-liquids to try now
• Which tobacco vape flavour is closest to your old cigarettes?
• Vaping and the law in Ireland

Written by Eoin O'Boyle, owner of OB Vape, Drogheda. Last updated 19 October 2026. We'll update this page after Wednesday's vote.