Key Facts

Smoking is estimated to be the cause of approximately 7,000 deaths in Ireland each year, chiefly by illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema (Department of Health and Children).

Around 30% of all cancer deaths in Ireland are attributed to smoking.

90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking (Department of Health and Children)

It costs the State €1 billion per year to provide health services for smokers (Department of Health and Children)

On the 29th March 2004, under provisions in the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004, enclosed workplaces became smoke-free in the Republic of Ireland.

94% of all workplaces inspected under the National Tobacco Control Inspection Programme are smoke-free. (Office of Tobacco Control, 2005:4)

98% of people feel that the smoke-free law is a success (Office of Tobacco Control, 2005:4)

Air quality in pubs has improved dramatically since the introduction of the smoke-free law (Office of Tobacco Control, 2005:4)

Levels of carbon monoxide have decreased by 45% in non-smoking bar workers since the introduction of the smoking ban.
(Office of Tobacco Control, 2005:4)

People are usually underage when they become addicted to nicotine (Report of the Tobacco Free Policy Review Group, 2000:23).

By 2030, tobacco is expected to be the single biggest cause of death worldwide, accounting for about 10 million deaths per year (World Bank, 1999).

Tobacco is one of the greatest causes of preventable and premature deaths in human history.

Price is a key factor in reducing the numbers who smoke (World Bank, 1999).

On 1st July 2009 new legislation came into place prohibiting all point of sale advertising in retail outlets and the storage of tobacco products out of sight of the customer.