THE capital is one step closer to being totally vape-free, with Dublin Airport and the Aviva Stadium becoming the latest places to ban the use of electronic cigarettes.

They join Irish Rail, Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus which recently announced that they were banning the practice.

A spokesperson for the Aviva Stadium said that since the stadium opened in May 2010, it has implemented a firm no-smoking policy which "covers all forms of smoking".

"There are designated smoking areas outside," the spokes-person added.

Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) echoed the call, and said that because electronic cigarettes remain unregulated "they fall under the current policy of no cigarette smoking". However, it was reported that the DAA will "keep this position under review".

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The policy group on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians has called for the sale of electronic cigarettes to be regulated.

"While we welcome the provisions on electronic cigarettes of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, more regulation is needed," Dr Pat Doorley of the group said.

"The absence of age limits in that directive means that it will continue to be available to children.

"Further consideration also needs to be given to the efficacy and safety of these products based on best-practice evid-ence."

Members of the European Parliament indicated last month that new rules should be applied to the sale of e-cigarettes.

Health Minister James Reilly's department is reviewing the sale of electronic cigarettes in this country, and whether they should be sold as medicinal or tobacco products.

According to figures released by Nielsen Total Scantrack earlier this month, e-cigarette sales have risen by almost 500pc.

HNEWS@HERALD.IE