Latest news with #ChrisMacey
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Vape shops selling Dubai chocolate and Prime energy drinks branded ‘a new low'
An emerging trend in which vape stores have begun to sell highly sought-after sweets, drinks and snacks, including the viral Dubai chocolate bar , has been described as a 'new low' for the industry. The shops have started to stock food items rarely seen in mainstream grocery stores, usually labelled as 'American candy' or 'American snacks'. This is alongside the sale of trending food items and drinks often boosted in popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok , including the now-famous Dubai chocolate bars and Prime energy drinks . Chris Macey, director of advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation , which has long called for restrictions on vapes, believes the development could 'normalise vaping in the eyes of children'. READ MORE 'Pairing sweets and vapes as though they are similar tasty treats represents a new low for an industry whose business model depends to a large extent on addicting as many young people as possible to nicotine,' he said. Mr Macey said the issue suggests a need to examine regulation of the promotion and sale of vapes in conjunction with sweets and 'other products aimed at children' alongside the 'brightly coloured' facades of vape stores. Fine Gael senator Mark Duffy, who described the move as 'predatory', said it has 'proliferated across the country'. Mr Duffy, who previously raised the issue in the Seanad after one such store opened in Ballina, Co Mayo, hopes to introduce a Bill this year to amend existing legislation and 'break up the association between vapes and things that generally attract children and young people'. 'If you just took out vapes and replaced it with cigarettes, you have cigarettes and candy. It's not a good look,' he said. 'I've had so many concerned citizens highlighting this. People take great offence to it in the community because of concerns for their children.' Mr Duffy said a landlord in Westport had terminated the lease of one such newly opened store late last year after public backlash. 'We need to have legislation that does not rely on the goodwill of a landlord but tackles it at source,' he said. Many stores also sell vaping products and jellies containing hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that health officials have warned can induce psychosis . While several owners of vape stores selling popular food items did not wish to speak to The Irish Times, one said he has 'definitely' seen an increase in customer numbers since he recently began to do so. Asked if the move might be enticing younger people into the stores, he said: 'No, not really. We don't sell them to younger people. We check their IDs.' He added: 'Other shops, like Spar and Centra, have vapes as well, and they're selling ice cream to kids.'
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Heart Foundation 'puzzled' by delay on energy drink ban for under-18s
Director of Advocacy and Patient Support with the Irish Heart Foundation, Chris Macey, has said that he is "really puzzled" that a Government decision on banning the sale of energy drinks to under-18s is to be delayed for a public consultation. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said this has been an item of discussion for several years. "There was Government research six years ago highlighting that we've got among the highest consumption of energy drinks in Western Europe. There is plenty of evidence out there on the health harms, some retail chains have even voluntarily restricted sales to children. "And the Government parties were concerned enough about this issue to include it in the programme for government." The legislation, which was introduced by Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, is currently before the Seanad. It defines a stimulant drink as a non-alcoholic beverage for human consumption, which contains more than 80 milligrams of caffeine per litre. The ban on the sale and promotion of these drinks would not cover tea and coffee. The Government agreed to table what is called a timed amendment which will pause any ban for at least 18 months. A Government spokesperson said that a body of work first needs to be carried out to identify any public health concerns and appropriate policy responses. Mr Macey said that there are a lot of different reviews and research studies showing that energy drinks are harmful to mental and physical health of children and young people, as well as their behaviour and education. "Studies have found consumption is associated with various serious adverse effects like seizures, cardiac abnormalities, behavioural disorders, headaches, stomach aches, tiredness, fatigue. And then excess sugar consumption is associated with tooth decay, diabetes and obesity, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke and some common cancers." Mr Macey added that the Irish Heart Foundation does a lot of work in schools on areas like nutrition and physical education. "And teachers have repeatedly highlighted with those that children are consuming energy drinks as breakfast replacements, that they're affecting pupils' mood, well-being, behaviour that there's disruption to classes. "And teachers have also said that pupils are consuming these drinks, both in large quantities and that the age group consuming them is getting lower and lower. "We've got a youth advisory panel that's advised us that we should seek these restrictions on energy drinks." Several EU countries have already restricted the sale of energy drinks, Mr Macey said: Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and outside the EU, the UK Government has promised to ban sales to under 16s. He said it sounds like the process is starting from scratch. "Which is very disappointing given that this has been a policy item or an item of discussion for several years. And as I say, even retailers themselves are taking action and the government hasn't, and isn't planning in the near future to back that up."
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wicklow TD on need for cardiovascular care reform – ‘These situations are preventable'
Ten thousand lives a year are claimed by CVD, Ireland's biggest killer, accounting for almost 30pc of all mortality. In Wicklow, 18,000 people live with the disease, which causes a wide range of heart conditions. Nationally, 80,000 CVD patients are discharged home every year – or one every seven minutes. However, despite the enormous toll of death and infirmity, Ireland has not had a CVD disease policy for over five years. A new Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group has recently been set up to build consensus across the political spectrum to support these 'abandoned' patients – and thereby deliver huge reductions in preventable death and disability. Deputy Timmins has joined this group and spoke about the inspiration behind that decision. 'There was a presentation in Leinster House and I know of a lot of cases, of men in particular, but also women, where people developed heart issues which could lead to heart attacks, particularly in the 50s age bracket. 'I believe these situations are preventable with the proper screening in place. Also a lot of people are developing strokes, which could be prevented through a greater level of awareness out there about issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 'People need to be more proactive in getting screened and seeing their doctor. People with chest pains should attend A&E, where you will be treated immediately. It's so important to attend A&E and if you are suffering from chest pain they will see you straight away. 'People often put it down to something like a stretched muscle, but it is vitally important that you don't ignore signs such as chest pain, and take the required measures to ensure your health is in check.' Ireland has the lowest number of cardiologists per capita in the EU and there is a critical need for investment in cardiac imaging, including echocardiography, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI. Director of advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation Chris Macey said: 'The absence of a policy framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of CVD, along with services that maximise patients' health and wellbeing in the community, is preventing the development of lifesaving services.' In addition, for those discharged from hospital, access to cardiac and stroke rehabilitation remains inadequate, they are also struggling due to the high costs associated with having a CVD condition and the widespread absence of psychological support to deal with the trauma of having a stroke, heart attack or other heart disease diagnosis. The Irish Heart Foundation is also asking the Oireachtas heart and stroke group to support action to increase awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure which affects 1.5 million people in Ireland and is the biggest risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The charity is also calling for the implementation of the National Stroke Strategy to ensure stroke survivors are admitted to dedicated stroke units, which reduce death and severe disability. Greater investment in cardiac rehabilitation programmes is also needed, which can reduce deaths from heart disease by at least a fifth, but which are understaffed and under-resourced nationwide. Mr Macey said that for the first time in several years, the Irish Heart Foundation is optimistic about the future prospects of heart patients and stroke survivors. 'The sector is united. It has a vision that can address current deficits and futureproof services for the rapid upsurge in heart disease and stroke due to our expanding and ageing population,' he said. 'This can deliver big reductions in preventable death and disability, through more cost- effective services, but it can only be achieved if policymakers make CVD a national health priority in the midst of so many crucial competing needs across our health services and our population.'
