Health experts urge hike in tobacco and alcohol taxes

The Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland has called on Brian Cowen to raise excise duties on tobacco and alcohol in next week's Budget.

The health experts would see the measure as an effective way to lessen the damage on people's health caused by cigarettes and alcohol.

"Great progress has been made over the past years in relation to tobacco policy but nearly one quarter of the adult population still smoke," said Dr Fenton Howell.

"We believe a minimum of a 10% rise in tobacco excise in the 2007 budget will encourage a significant number of Irish smokers to quit.

"In addition, in order to facilitate further price increases into the future, we are calling for tobacco to be removed from the Consumer Price Index"

"There are a number of fiscal measures that can be taken in next week's budget to lessen alcohol related harm", said Dr Declan Bedford.

"In view of our ongoing problems with alcohol related health and social harm we are calling on Minister Cowen to raise excise on alcohol greater than 3% by volume while simultaneously reducing excise on alcohol less than 3% by volume.

"The evidence is that problem alcohol drinkers respond to price hikes by reducing harmful consumption"

"As an additional measure some of the extra revenue generated by these measures should be made available for the treatment of smoking and alcohol related illnesses", said Dr Bedford.