National Archives - Haughey used tax threat to curb tobacco promotion

CHARLES HAUGHEY, as health minister, threatened to land tobacco companies with an advertisement tax if they refused to co-operate with his moves to curb smoking.

Haughey took charge of health in July 1977 under Jack Lynch following a landslide victory for Fianna Fáil. It was his first foray as a minister, since he was dismissed by Lynch during the 1970 arms crises.

During his years in the political wilderness, Haughey himself had given up smoking.