Drop-off in smoking ‘could hit State revenues by €185m’

THE Government’s coffers could be down by as much as €185 million this year because people are smoking less since the introduction of the smoking ban.

Recent figures from the Revenue Commissioners showed that the number of tobacco stamps collected by the agency had fallen by 16% in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2003.

Although the measurement of tobacco stamps is not necessarily linked directly to sales of cigarettes, it is a good indicator of the trends to date and possible sales in the months to come, a spokesperson for the Revenue said yesterday.