One in five 15-18 year olds taking up smoking

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has been urged by anti-smoking campaigners to set a date for a ban on the sale of 10-packs of cigarettes and to push for a substantial increase in the price of a pack of 20 in the Budget.

The Tánaiste indicated yesterday she does intend to press ahead with the ban on the sale of 10-packs as it emerged that large numbers of teenagers are still taking up smoking. A ban is provided for in the Public Health (Tobacco) Act.

The Office of Tobacco Control’s (OTC) annual report revealed the number of smokers has dropped to one in four, down from one in three in 1998.

However, the report also notes that 20% of all teenagers aged between 15 and 18 are taking up the habit. In addition, there has been a slight increase in the number of people smoking in the last few months.

Ms Harney said it was intended the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control would be ratified by the Dáil during the current session. One of the key elements of the convention is that the price of tobacco products increases by at least 5% over inflation every year.

OTC chairman Dr Michael Boland called for more vigorous enforcement of the law to clamp down on the illegal sale of cigarettes to teenagers.

“Together with the recent slight upward trend in cigarette smoking, the figures in relation to young people continue to be extremely worrying,” he said.

“Going forward, if we are to make further progress, we need a substantial increase above the rate of inflation in tobacco taxes in the upcoming Budget; a complete ban on all tobacco advertising including point- of-sale; better compliance with the law by retailers in order to protect children; and continued targeted cessation programmes to support smokers trying to quit.”

Irish Heart Foundation medical director Dr Brian Maurer said the failure to increase the price in the last budget “effectively means that cigarettes are now cheaper in real terms than last year.”

“This is despite the evidence that price is one of the most effective deterrents to young people smoking.”