Among the old reliables in Michael Noonan’s budget, consumers of alcohol and motorists escaped unscathed, but cigarette smokers will have to cough up another 50 cent per packet.

A group representing smokers is hitting out at a proposal for a 50c budget hike in the cost of a pack of cigarettes.

The “war” against tobacco took another small step with final agreement on new rules mainly on packaging that experts reckon should lead to a 2% drop in smokers and save economies about €500m a year.