97% of workplaces complying with smoking ban

The vast majority of Irish workplaces are complying with the Government’s smoking ban, according to figures released today by the Office of Tobacco Control.

The figures, released to coincide with World No Tobacco Day, showed that inspectors had found 97% compliance with the ban throughout the country.

The OTC said a survey carried out by TNS-MRBI had also found that smokers were not staying away from pubs because of the ban, while more non-smokers were visiting licensed premises and 20% of smokers were deciding not to smoke while in the pub.

Elsewhere, the anti-smoking group ASH has called on the Government to significantly increase taxes on tobacco in an effort to force people to give up smoking.

The group said studies had found that smoking was more prevalent among the disadvantaged and increasing the cost was the best way to force these people to stop. It said buying 20 cigarettes a day cost €2,200 per year.

The World Health Organisation, meanwhile, has claimed that tobacco is placing a huge financial burden on developing countries through healthcare costs and low productivity. It said an estimated 84% of the world’s smokers live in developing countries.