ASH Ireland welcomes the 50cents increase on a pack of 20 cigarettes

Date: 14 October 2008

Budget 2008/9 Press Statement from ASH Ireland

ASH Ireland welcomes a 50c increase – but describes it as an opportunity missed….

ASH Ireland welcomes the 50cents increase on a pack of 20 cigarettes and related products as announced in today’s budget. ASH Ireland and other health groups had sought a €2 increase and all believe an opportunity has been missed by the Minister to make a real impact on our current smoking levels.

Dr Angie Brown, Chairperson of ASH Ireland said this evening, “The increase is welcome and will certainly make a difference. Price is an extremely important device in encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging young people from experimenting with tobacco. I believe the public would generally have accepted a more substantial increase and understood the health benefits”

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 – as is the practice in some other EU countries. 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:
Valerie Coghlan, Ash Ireland, 087 640 0542
Wally Young, Young Communications, 01 668 0530, 087 247 1520

The Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation fund ASH Ireland