Almost 30% of smokers smoke more since the pandemic started

28% of people who smoke say they smoke more now than they did before the pandemic arrived in Ireland. File picture

While some people used the pandemic as an opportunity to quit smoking altogether, more than a quarter of smokers now smoke more than they did in March 2020, the national lead for the HSE’s Tobacco Free Ireland programme has said.

Martina Blake said Covid-19 brought a mixed bag when it came to efforts to reduce smoking in Ireland.