A smoking lobby group says the Government will infantilise adults if they plough ahead with plans to raise the smoking age limit. 

Plans are going to Cabinet today which propose setting the legal age to buy tobacco products at 21, up from 18. 

The Government wants to reduce the number of young people who smoke and eliminate the addiction for future generations. 

Forest Éireann Director Simon Clarke says the Cabinet proposal does not match how young adults live their lives. 

“When you are 18, you're legally an adult,” he said. 

“You can drive a car, you can join the army and possess a credit card, you can purchase alcohol and you can vote. 

“Now if you could do all those things, if you're trusted to do all those things at 18, we believe you should also be allowed to choose to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products.” 

Smoking ban at 18

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will bring the proposed Bill to Cabinet today as smoking rates stabilise around 18%. 

Under the proposal, those currently aged between 18 and 21 will still be allowed to buy tobacco product. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris told The Pat Kenny Show yesterday the Bill will not “make something illegal that is legal today”. 

“If you’re 18, 19, 20, and you’re smoking today, we wish you weren’t from a public health point of view, but we’re not intending to make that illegal,” he said. 

“We’re talking about people when they reach the age of 18... this is something that’s been used in quite a number of countries - I think we should learn from best international practice.” 

Then-Health Minister Micheál Martin led the ban on smoking indoors in March 2004. 

Since then, smoking rates have fallen from 27% to 18%, and 74 more countries have banned smoking indoors. 

Mr Donnelly has also introduced legislation to ban vaping for those under 18.