The cost of any licence cannot be passed on to consumers as retailers have no discretion as to the price they charge for tobacco products. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienA retailers group has claimed in the High Court that the then-Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly introduced exorbitant new licensing fees for selling tobacco products which were just “plucked out of the air”. Under the new licensing system, due to come into operation next February, retailers will have to pay a total fee of €1,800 to sell tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, or €1,000 for tobacco alone or €800 for nicotine products alone. The cost of any licence cannot be passed on to consumers as retailers have no discretion as to the price they charge for tobacco products. The minister denies the claims and said it has been government policy over many years to disincentivise retailers from selling tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products.

Source: The Irish Times November 11, 2025 21:23 UTC