Ban on 10 Packs and Confectionary Cigarettes Welcomed

Date: 31 May 2007

World No Tobacco Day 31st May 2007

BAN ON 10 PACKS and CONFECTIONARY CIGARETTES WELCOMED

ASH Ireland welcomes the banning of the sale of 10 packs of cigarettes with effect from today, 31st May 2007. This is an important development in the overall fight against tobacco related disease – and it should impact on sales of cigarettes to young people and therefore reduce the prevalence of smoking.

ASH Ireland also welcomes the introduction of a ban on the sale of confectionary cigarettes with effect from today. These ‘innocently presented’ products did have the potential to normalise the smoking of cigarettes with very young people - and as is the case in many countries – banning them is the only sensible option.

Prof. Luke Clancy, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today “The banning of the ten pack is a welcome development and will hopefully impact on sales to young people. Young people are price sensitive and its is expected that the requirement to purchase 20 cigarettes as opposed to 10 will be a barrier to some people experimenting with tobacco. Lets hope the tobacco industry do not continue to seek ways of circumventing this restriction on sales”.

Professor Clancy went on to say, “I certainly hope the incoming Government will move quickly to implement all aspects of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act. The main issues remaining to be dealt with are the prohibition of point of sale advertising and the removal of the prominent displays of tobacco products in all retail outlets. This type of advertising and promotion of a killer product has no role in today’s Irish society, which has achieved so much today in terms of tobacco control.

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For further information contact
Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman, ASH Ireland, 086-8364337
Young Communications, 01-6680530/087-2471520

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