Government should hike cost of cigarettes and alcohol, say doctors

DOCTORS want the Government to increase the price of cigarettes by around 30% and impose a 20% increase on alcohol in next month’s Budget.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) want the price of a packet of 20 cigarette increased by €2, increasing the price to around €8.25.

Cigarettes were price sensitive, the IMO states in its pre-Budget submission, and the €2 increase would lead to an overall decrease in tobacco consumption, improve cardiovascular health and lessen the development of tobacco related cancers.