Whichever party is in government in the UK after the general election on 4th July, it looks like we will have yet another battle on our hands to frustrate the stop smoking brigade.

Yesterday the Conservatives published their election manifesto and there, tucked away on page 41 of the 76-page document, was confirmation that 'We will bring forward our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill in our first King’s Speech'.

Translation: Tories commit to generational smoking ban.

The Labour manifesto is expected to include a similar undertaking, so with the party odds-on to win the election there's no hiding the fact that we're going to face another very difficult challenge over the next few months.

JOB OPPORTUNITY – SPOKESPERSON, FOREST IRELAND (SCROLL DOWN)

Which brings us to Ireland where we have a slightly different problem following the Dublin government's recent announcement that, instead of a generational ban, ministers have approved a proposal to raise the age of sale of tobacco from 18 to 21.

In comparison to the progressive prohibition of tobacco to adults of ALL ages, some people consider this to be a reasonable compromise. The principle however is the same.

If, at 18, you are legally an adult and can drive a car, join the army, purchase alcohol, possess a credit card, AND VOTE (let alone vote at 16), then you should also be permitted to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Concede that argument and you are on a very slippery slope. What next? 25? 30? A generational ban? Complete prohibition?

The news was reported just last month and in response Forest director Simon Clark was interviewed on RTE Radio 1 (DriveTime), Live 95 (Limerick Today), LMFM (The Michael Reade Show), Ocean FM, Shannonside FM, Cork's 96FM (The Opinion Line), and Newstalk, the number one speech-based commercial radio station in Ireland.

He was also a guest on The Tonight Show (Virgin Media) where he took part in a discussion with Senator Tim Lombard and Professor John Crown.

See also: Smoking lobby group: 'We should be trusted to buy cigarettes at 18' (Newstalk) and Poll: Should the minimum legal age of sale for cigarettes be raised? (The Journal).

Both reports included a quote by Forest.

If that wasn't enough, fast forward to a fortnight ago and yet another prohibition story, this time the announcement that self-serve cigarette and vape vending machines are to be outlawed in Ireland from September 2025.

No great surprise, perhaps. Tobacco vending machines have been prohibited in the UK for the best part of 15 years, but the news nevertheless generated further headlines plus a response from Forest.

Director Simon Clark was again in demand, appearing on Newstalk (The Pat Kenny Show), The Opinion Line (Cork's 96FM), and various news bulletins across the Bauer Media network.

See also: Cigarette and vape vending machines ban will 'fuel black market – smokers' group (Newstalk).

More news as it develops. Meanwhile, we have a job opportunity (below) ...

JOB OPPORTUNITY

An opportunity has arisen for a communications professional to work for and represent the smokers’ rights group Forest in Ireland on a part-time, ad hoc basis, with most of the work being conducted in response to breaking news and developing political events.

For a full job description, including the necessary skills, please email [email protected] as soon as possible. Applications must be received by 30th June 2024.