OPINION: Should Ireland take the plunge and ban outdoor smoking following Milan's strict new law

The Italian city of Milan has now implemented a ban on smokers lighting up on streets and in public areas in one of the country's harshest bans yet. 

The city has been cracking down on smoking since 2020 when Milan City Council's air quality ordinance called for stricter bans on smoking to improve the city's air quality and public health.

In 2021, Milan forbid smoking in parks and playgrounds as well as sports facilities and at bus stops.

The latest ban which comes into effect on New Year's Day now stretches the restrictions to all public places, including city streets, with the exception of isolated areas where it is possible to maintain a distance of at least 10 metres from other people.

Anyone found to be caught breaking the new rules faces a fine from between €40 and €240.

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Of course, this new ban has faced a lot of controversy as smoking restrictions typically do. 

Some are saying that the ban is too excessive and is limiting people's freedom, while others are welcoming the move.

Ireland has some of the strictest laws in the European Union surrounding smoking and so it is fair to assume that this latest groundbreaking ban may influence the country's future legislation.

In 2022, the Census included a question on smoking tobacco for the first time ever. 

According to its results, over 24% of people aged between 25 and 29 smoked either daily or occasionally. Interestingly, this was the highest proportion among all age groups in the survey.

Although that figure is somewhat surprising, I think we can all agree that less people are smoking in Ireland. However, what about e-cigarettes?

Milan's latest ban does not include e-cigarettes, which makes you wonder if they're ignoring a major aspect of the entire 'smoking debate.'

When they were first introduced, many people were switching to vaping to help cut down on smoking - a definitely cheaper alternative. Some people also believe that e-cigarettes may be a healthier option to smoking, but studies are still being done in this field in regards to its long-term effects.

According to the Irish Cancer Society: "While short-term evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes, more evidence is needed to assess the long-term risk."

With this uncertainty, is it wise to exclude e-cigarettes from such bans? It is a question which undoubtably should be at the forefront of this debate considering their popularity among young people.

Smoking areas in pubs are quickly becoming more populated with people vaping, with some people taking up the habit who may never have smoked a cigarette in their lives.

The price, the convenience, and the fruity smell make vaping a much more attractive option for people and especially younger people. 

Personally, when I was in secondary school in the 2010s, vaping was a relatively new phenomenon among teenagers but not necessarily widely popular. Now, it seems that it has increased rapidly.

When you're at a counter in a shop, you're met with an array of brightly coloured vapes and not cigarette boxes which have been marked by horrific images to deter people from smoking, or at least remind them of the harm they cause.

So, why is smoking targeted more aggressively when surely vaping should be an even greater cause for concern?

Yes, more study is needed to determine its affects, but is it worth taking the chance in the meantime?