Smuggling risk should not stop tobacco tax hike, urges lobby

FEAR of encouraging illegal trading in cigarettes should not deter the Government from taxing tobacco in next month’s emergency budget, pro-health and anti-tobacco groups have urged.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS), ASH Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation have joined forces to press for a e2 increase in tobacco tax.

Chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society John McCormack said the Government had a duty of care to young people, who were a particular target of both the tobacco companies and organised criminals.

“In countries with lower cigarette prices, such as Poland and Hungary, there is a significant smuggling problem so it does not always follow that increasing price increases smuggling,” he said yesterday.

Irish Heart Foundation chief executive Michael O’Shea said there was a considerable body of evidence that only a significant price hike would deter young people from starting to smoke and encourage smokers to stop.

“But there is no doubt that the Government needs to act urgently to ensure that Ireland is not further targeted by organised crime peddling counterfeit cigarettes which are even more poisonous than legally produced cigarettes,” he said.

Chairwoman of ASH Ireland and consultant cardiologist Dr Angie Brown said the three organisations accepted that Ireland had a significant black market for illegal cigarettes.

It is estimated that one in four cigarettes smoked in Ireland is illegal.

Dr Brown said about 826 million illegal cigarettes were sold in Ireland, with children often used as the initial point of contact with potential purchasers.

The three groups also pointed out that about half of the cigarettes smuggled into Ireland are contraband and half are counterfeit, with the bulk coming from China and organised by major gangs.

ICS head of advocacy and communications Kathleen O’Meara said more resources were needed to tackle the problem and said last year there were only 78 convictions for smuggling.

lPeople who want support and information on quitting smoking can call the National Smokers’ Quitline at 1850 201 203.

* Health campaigners push for €2 increase on price of cigarettes