Ireland tops on anti smoking

Date: 23 May 2006

Press Release

 

 

 

 

ASH WELCOMES IRELAND’S TOP RANKING ON TOBACCO CONTROL

 

 

ASH Ireland today (Thursday 25^th May) welcomes Ireland’s top ranking on tobacco measures published in the leading scientific journal, Tobacco Control, which is linked to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

 

 

 

The researchers who developed the ranking looked at 30 European countries using a tobacco control scale which included price, smoking bans, public information, advertising bans, health warnings and cessation treatment.  Ireland scored 74 points out of a possible 100, one point ahead of the UK, with Norway in third place at 71.

 

 

 

Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman of ASH Ireland, responding to today’s publication of the survey said “This result is not surprising as we have taken some very important health related decisions on tobacco in recent years.  The leadership shown by the Government has been crucial and with the support of non-governmental organisations, the trade unions and especially the Irish people, we have made immense progress”.

 

 

 

ASH Ireland is however concerned that Ireland does not lose its focus on tobacco related issues and become complacent.  The Government has failed to tackle the price issue and there are indications that this is contributing to the recent upturn in the number of young people commencing to smoke and a fall off in the number of people quitting.   We must develop regulations which will stop the proliferation of smoking rooms attached to or part of some pubs.  It would be disastrous if after all that has been achieved we allowed a general resurgence of the ‘old ways’ with inevitable negative consequences for the health of all our citizens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information contact:

 

 

 

Professor Luke Clancy – 086 8364337

 

Young Communications – 01 6680530

 

ASH Ireland – 01 2310521