Starting next year, the Catholic Church in Ireland will introduce a new pledge for children making their Confirmation, encouraging them to abstain from vaping until they reach 18 years of age. This updated pledge will also include abstaining from alcohol and smoking.

Traditionally, Irish children taking their Confirmation pledge at the age of 12 have promised not to drink until they turn 18. The addition of vaping to the pledge aims to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people during their formative years.

The Irish Bishops’ Drugs and Alcohol Initiative, in collaboration with the Catholic Primary School Management Association, will provide a new online module to schools whose students wish to take the updated Confirmation pledge. This initiative is being launched in memory of Matt Talbot, known as the Apostle of Hope, whose centenary death was recently commemorated by the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Matt Talbot, a native of Dublin, is revered by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference for his strong faith and personal transformation. His dedication to prayer, penance, and sacraments serves as a beacon of hope for individuals battling addiction today.

The decision to include vaping in the Confirmation pledge is a tribute to Talbot's legacy and aims to promote the physical and mental well-being of young people, according to the church.