Cigarette price hike and 10-packs to be stubbed out

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney is to announce a ban on the sale of ten-pack cigarettes in the coming days, after a new survey found 16% of children aged between 12-17 are smokers.

Teenage smokers are going through ten cigarettes a day, and spending an average of €40 a week on the habit, according to figures from the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC).

Three-quarters of young smokers said another family member smoked while 92% said their best friend did so, showing the strong influence of family and peer groups on starting smoking early.

Smokers aged between 16 and 17 years have an average weekly spend of €201 a week and €50 of this goes on alcohol, while €39 is spent on tobacco

Ten-packs were the preferred choice for the majority (76%) of young smokers, and the Minister said the packs will be banned from the shelves shortly.

“Clearly we wanted to give the industry some time to get the current supplies they have in stock out of the system. I think it’s fair and reasonable when you’re making such a radical change.. I hope to make an announcement of the effective date in the coming days,” she said.

Ms Harney said it was “very depressing” that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are spending three times more on cigarettes than their well-off counterparts.

Smokers aged 12-17 whose parents are high earners, spend €12 a week on cigarettes and €17 a week on alcohol. Those who come from poorer families spend €37 on cigarettes and €45 on drink.

OTC chief executive Eamonn Rossi said: “The initiation of smoking is largely a childhood phenomenon. This report supports other research which shows that children are more susceptible to nicotine addiction than the metabolism of an adult.”

Eight out of ten young smokers, who usually buy ten-packs, said they would probably kick the habit if prices went up significantly.

Ms Harney said Finance Minister Brian Cowen, who will present the budget next week, is “conscious of the level people who smoke are influenced by the price of cigarettes”.

She said: “Clearly there is a link between the price of cigarettes and smoking patterns as far as young people are concerned. Cigarettes now are more expensive than they ever were and they are heavily taxed. However, I am conscious that they are cheaper than Northern Ireland. The more expensive cigarettes are the better it is as far as the health system is concerned.”

The Minister said there is a problem with young women smoking because they think it will help them lose weight. Positive role models, rather than politicians, are needed to get the message across that smoking is not trendy, she said.

The OTC will pay particular attention to raising awareness among shop keepers, after the study found that almost nine out of ten 12-17 years olds were not asked for identification last time they purchased tobacco.