Ireland risks slipping back to pre-smoking ban levels

IRELAND is in danger of slipping back to pre-smoking ban levels because of the Government’s failure to implement a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy, warns the Irish Heart Foundation.

“The number of smokers in Ireland is frightening at 29% and each one faces a double risk of stroke and a triple risk of heart attack,” said IHF chief executive Michael O’Shea.

“Where once we led the way on this serious health issue, we are now in danger of reverting to pre-smoking ban levels in our population because of the Government’s failure to implement an anti-smoking strategy,” he declared yesterday – World No Tobacco Day.