70,000 drop in number of smokers last year, says HSE

The number of people smoking in Ireland fell by 70,000 last year, official research has shown.

The rate is now down to less than one fifth of the over 15 population — the largest annual drop in five years —compared to 21.5% in 2013, and 28% when the survey started in 2003.

According to research released by the HSE, the worst age group for smoking is 25 to 34-year-olds with a rate of 27.3%. The lowest levels were among 15 to 17-year-olds with a rate of just 7.9%.

The less well off in society had some of the highest figures for tobacco use — almost one quarter of the poorest sections smoke.

Dave Molloy, National Tobacco Lead for the HSE, said the figures show that comprehensive tobacco control measures are working.

“These changes are welcome, but there are still over 700,000 smokers in Ireland, and we see 5,200 tobacco related deaths annually — that’s 15 deaths every day, and 100 families bereaved every week,” he said.

“Ireland has set a target of being effectively smoke-free — a less than 5% prevalence — by 2025. To achieve this target the Tobacco Free Ireland policy includes a range of tobacco control initiatives to further denormalise smoking, stop our children starting to smoke and help smokers to quit.”

However, the death rate from smoking related illnesses in Ireland is about 9% higher than the European average.

The HSE also reports its ad featuring the late Gerry Collins inspired more than 200,000 attempts by people to give up smoking since last year and has been used as a model for similar campaigns in the UK.