Home > New research shows 62% support raising tobacco prices.

Irish Cancer Society. [Irish Cancer Society] New research shows 62% support raising tobacco prices. (31 May 2014)

External website: http://www.cancer.ie/content/new-research-shows-62...

Sixty two percent of Irish people support a rise in tobacco prices according to new research carried out by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society. The Society is releasing the figure on World No Tobacco Day, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on all countries to increase tobacco taxes to reduce tobacco consumption and save lives.

One thousand adults were polled as part of the research which explored smoking prevalence and attitudes to smoking in Ireland. Fifty five percent of people said that hiking tobacco prices would be effective in encouraging a smoker to give up. The Irish Cancer Society says it is encouraged by the results of this poll. An increase in tobacco prices will ultimately mean fewer people will die unnecessarily as a result of smoking which is the single biggest cause of preventable death in Ireland.

“The overall message from these figures is clear: tobacco price increases have the backing of the Irish public,” says Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy & Communications. “The Irish Cancer Society has been calling on the government to increase tobacco taxes for many years but they have stopped short of big increases for fear of an increase in smuggling. This is the argument of the tobacco industry. However, the latest preliminary data from the Revenue Commissioners shows that the rate of illicit tobacco is continuing to fall. In 2012, 13% of all tobacco was illicit. Revenue estimate it is now 11%.”

Ms. O’Meara continued, “The annual cost of smoking to the health budget is €2 billion and every day, sixteen people die unnecessarily as a result of the habit. Every measure that can be taken to tackle smoking must be taken, and raising price is one of the most effective weapons available. It must form part of a number of measures aimed at achieving the government’s plan for a Tobacco Free Ireland by 2025. The Irish Cancer Society wants the government to introduce the plain packaging of cigarettes urgently, and the tobacco industry is using red herrings such as smuggling and youth education to argue against it.

“Like plain packaging, increasing tobacco prices discourages young people to start smoking. Irish people start smoking at the youngest age in the EU, at just 16 years of age."

The Irish Cancer Society wants fewer people to smoke in Ireland so that the cancer rate goes down. “High tobacco prices will cut our smoking rate. If tobacco taxes are increased, we should do it with one objective in mind – for fewer people to die from lung cancer and other smoking related illnesses in Ireland," she concluded.


Repository Staff Only: item control page