10 cent cigarette price increase disappointing says Irish Cancer Society

The Irish Cancer Society has accused the Government of failing to use the opportunity to cut the high rate of smoking with a very disappointing 10c increase in the price of cigarettes. The increase announced today is not the sharp spike in price that is proven to discourage people from smoking and the announcement is an embarrassing capitulation to both the tobacco industry and the anti-tobacco lobby groups.

Speaking in response to the Budget this afternoon, Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications said, "While any price increase is to be welcomed, the Government has missed an opportunity to take decisive action on the problem of smoking and has only increased the price of cigarettes by a nominal amount. Every day, sixteen people die unnecessarily as a result of smoking and annually the cost to the health budget is €2 billion. Smoking is the biggest single cause of cancer in Ireland and lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer. Therefore every measure that can be taken to tackle smoking must be taken, and raising price is one of the most effective weapons available.” In their joint Pre Budget Submission, the Irish Cancer Society and Irish Heart Foundation showed that an additional €150 million was available to Government if it were to cut tobacco industry profits. In Ireland, the tobacco industry earns €1 more in profit per cigarette pack compared to the UK. The charities had also called on Government to commit to an annual tax increase of the rate of inflation plus 5%. This would keep cigarettes unaffordable to children. Ms. O'Meara said that the argument that increasing price will increase smuggling used by the tobacco industry to argue against price increases is a red herring. "The tobacco industry clearly does not believe that price increases lead to smuggling as it raises the price of cigarettes even when there is no tax increase. The smuggling of cigarettes is a criminal issue which is robbing the Exchequer of much needed revenue as well as threatening health. It can and must be tackled at that level. Smuggling is not the result of high price. Some countries where legal cigarettes are low in price also have a very high smuggling rate. Smuggling can be and should be tackled as it is undermining health policies designed in particular to discourage young people from starting smoking,"she said. Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable deaths in Ireland and must be tackled. Tobacco kills more people in Ireland than road accidents, suicides, drugs, farm accidents and AIDS put together. Smoking causes 30% of all cancers, including 95% of all lung cancers and causes three times the risk of heart attack compared to non-smokers. Overall 5,700 people die in Ireland every year from smoking-related illnesses including cancer, heart and respiratory disease.