ASH Ireland Response to Budget December 2010

Date: 07 December 2010

ASH Ireland Response to Budget 2010

ASH Ireland is very disappointed that Minister Lenihan has not increased the price of tobacco in the budget. Price is recognised by the W.H.O. and others as the most important way of encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging young people from experimenting with tobacco. The Minister’s concerns about ‘smuggling and price increase’ are misguided - smuggling must be tackled as a separate and very serious criminal issue.

Dr Brian Maurer, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “Tobacco smuggling must be tackled before the market is flooded with cheap cigarettes and a consequent increase in smoking and tobacco related illness. The current cost to the state of treating tobacco related disease annually is well over €1 billion euro. This will increase if prevalence levels rise”.

Dr Maurer went on to say, “Smuggling of tobacco into this country has now reached major proportions and must be tackled head on by the government. Well over 20% of cigarettes smoked in this country are non-duty paid; the loss in revenue to the exchequer is over €400m euro per annum. Smuggling increases consumption and addiction and therefore is of long term benefit of the tobacco industry. There are many examples of jurisdictions where tobacco price has been increased for health reasons and smuggling simultaneously tackled and reduced – such as Australia, New Zealand and Spain”

I ask the Government to continue the fight against smoking. Progress has been made but is retarded by an industry that uses every possible opportunity to market its addictive killer product to young people as well as confirmed smokers. The Government should invest in reducing smoking prevalence in keeping with its target of a ‘Smokefree Society’. Experience in other jurisdictions shows that such an investment leads to a rapid reduction in related illness and in the cost of treating tobacco related disease.

ENDS


Further information contact:
ASH Ireland, 01-6599451
Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 6680530, 087 2471520