Doctors call for €2 rise in price of cigarettes

DOCTORS want the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes to be increased by €2 in next month’s Budget.

Such a move would see the average price on a packet of 20 cigarettes costing €7.90.

Retailers believe Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy will opt for a 50c increase, as he did in the last Budget, although he could push the tax increase to €1.