Group urges 'clear' Govt anti-smoking strategy

The Government was today urged to take a three-pronged approach to tackling smoking by hiking taxes, cracking down on smuggling and introducing schemes to wean users off the habit.

In advance of World No Tobacco Day tomorrow the Irish Heart Foundation said Ireland risks wiping out the progress made since the smoking ban.

It accused the Government of having no clear anti-smoking strategy and said just under a third of Irish people light up.

Michael O’Shea, Chief Executive, said: “The number of smokers in Ireland is frightening at 29% and each one faces a double risk of stroke and triple risk of heart attack.

“Where once we led the way on this serious health issue, we are now in danger of reverting to pre-smoking ban levels in our population because of Government’s failure to implement a comprehensive anti-smoking strategy.”

Mr O’Shea said it was particularly worrying that 56% of young women aged between 18 and 29 of lower-income backgrounds are smokers.

“But the good news is that seven out of 10 smokers want to stop,” Mr O’Shea added.

“At the Irish Heart Foundation we call on Government to take action and introduce a three-way approach to help smokers quit using significant increases on tobacco tax, anti-smuggling measures and smoking cessation programmes.”

The IHF said that while the smoking ban was a positive step, it was not enough.

Meanwhile the new Aviva Stadium will also operate a non-smoking policy for sport fixtures and concerts.

The policy covers half-time or intervals as fans will not be allowed to leave to smoke and return to the stadium at any time during the event.