Campaign urges cigarette price hike

UP TO 40,000 smokers would kick the habit if the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes increased by 10%, according to an EU anti-smoking campaign.

Research by Help for a Life without Tobacco shows a 10% hike in high-income countries results in a 4% reduction in the number of smokers.

Professor Luke Clancy, chairman of ASH Ireland, the lobby group for a smoke-free society, called on the Government to take this finding on board when framing the budget.