Senators Averil Power and John Crown at the launch of a bill to regulate the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes at Leinster House, Dublin. Picture credit; Damien Eagers

ELECTRONIC cigarettes would be regulated like ordinary cigarettes under a new draft law published by two leading senators.

Senator Averil Power of Fianna Fail, and Independent Senator and oncologist John Crown, have combined in an effort to make so-called "e-cigarettes" subject to the same restrictions as those which apply to tobacco products. They also want to see liquid nicotine bottles fixed with mandatory child-proof safety caps.

The main provisions of the bill include banning the sale of electronic-cigarettes to people under 18; making it illegal to smoke them in public places and workplaces; an advertising and sponsorship ban for those making, promoting or selling them; a ban on their consumption in vehicles where persons under 18 are present.

"Electronic cigarettes may not be as harmful as tobacco products and might help people to quit smoking. However, a number of concerns have been expressed about them by the World Health Organisation," Ms Power said. The smokers' lobby group Forest Éireann urged the Government not to get involved in what they termed "over-regulation".

Irish Independent