50 cent Increase on pack of 20 cigarettes Welcomed by ASH Ireland

Date: 06 December 2006

Budget Press Statement from ASH Ireland

ASH Ireland welcomes the 0.50cent increase on a pack of 20 cigarettes and related products as announced in today’s budget. ASH Ireland regrets that the Minister missed the opportunity to put a €2 increase on tobacco products - as this level of increase would have impacted positively on current smoking levels.

Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman, ASH Ireland said this evening, “The increase is welcome and will make a difference. It is the first increase on tobacco in three years; so understandably we would have expected a much more significant increase. The government has missed an opportunity, as I believe the public would generally have accepted a more substantial increase and understood the immediate and long-term health benefits that would result.

If the government is serious about achieving a tobacco free society then the ‘price nettle’ must be grasped. The CPI issue, which is a concern for government can be dealt with by taking tobacco out of the basket of products used to measure the CPI. Cigarettes are a highly addictive killer product and people need assistance with cessation, and price is well established as the best way of achieving this.”

Further information:
Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman, ASH Ireland, 086 836 4337
Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 668 0530, 087 247 1520

ASH Ireland is funded by the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation