ASH Ireland Welcomes OTC Report on Children, Youth and Tobacco

Date: 28 November 2006

ASH Ireland Welcomes OTC Report on Children,
Youth and Tobacco
Government must take responsibility for youth expenditure on cigarettes as it has failed to increase prices

ASH Ireland welcomes the report on Children, Youth and Tobacco published by the Offices of Tobacco Control today.

Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman of ASH Ireland, said today, “OTC must be complemented on this excellent report which provides some vital information on where young people are spending their money. It is quite alarming to note that 16-17 years old are spending close to €40 per week.

Professor Clancy went on to say; “The government must take responsibility for this very sizeable expenditure by our young people on a product that is most likely to kill them. The government has failed to increase the price of tobacco for the past three years – so young people, who are price sensitive, view tobacco products as more affordable than ever. Whereas we must all wonder at how young people are spending so much money – we must also look at the massive health risks involved in this level of expenditure on tobacco. The Government must recognise this considerable disposable income available to our young people”

“It is imperative that the government put at least €2 on the price of a pack of twenty cigarettes in next weeks budget so that smokers can be assisted with cessation and our young people protected from this killer product to which all users will become addicted”.

ENDS.

Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman, ASH Ireland, 086 8364337
Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 668 0530, 087 2471520

ASH Ireland is sponsored by the Irish Cancer Society and Irish heart Foundation