Mixed reaction as cigarettes and fuel costs rise but alcohol escapes

THERE was mixed reaction as Charlie McCreevy yesterday imposed increases to the prices of cigarettes and fuel. Alcohol, already heavily taxed, escaped further rises.

The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes has gone up by 25c, while 5c was applied to the price of a litre of both petrol and diesel, the increases became effective at midnight.

The changes in the price of cigarettes and fuel will yield an extra 243 million in revenue, with over 190m hitting motorists.