More than 560 deaths in Ireland linked to second-hand smoke in 2023, UCC study finds

Ireland ranks fifth in the EU for second-hand smoke exposure, with 1.37 million people exposed in 2023, researchers say

Researchers involved in the long-running study warned that progress on halting smoking has 'stalled'. Picture: iStock

More than 560 deaths in Ireland were linked to exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Ireland is “going in the wrong direction” on tobacco controls and “a total ban” on these products is now needed, the Irish researcher leading the project has said.

Researchers involved in the long-running study warned that progress on halting smoking has “stalled”.

Ireland now ranks fifth among 27 EU member states for high levels of second-hand smoke exposure, despite having first introduced the smoking ban in 2004.

Some 1.37 million people – 27.9% of the population – were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023. The analysis covers data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023.

Dr Zubair Kabir is Ireland’s lead researcher on the Global Burden of Disease Study and a senior lecturer at University College Cork’s School of Public Health.

“We are going in the wrong direction in the sense that we should have done more in terms of tackling the burden of tobacco use,” he said.

He warned: “Our exposure to second-hand smoke is stuck. The easy gains are behind us.” The ban was not designed for outdoors or private settings," he added.

“The smoking ban is a huge success, but it is not sufficient,” he said.

‘The smoking ban was an extraordinary achievement’

A key concern arising from this study is the negative impact on people’s health. While the population is living longer, many struggle with smoking-related illnesses.

These include lung disease, cancers, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. This is measured in DALYs (disability-adjusted life years), with one DALY equal to the loss of one year of full health.

“Second-hand smoke is still responsible for over 13,000 years of healthy life lost in Ireland every year,” Dr Kabir said.

“The smoking ban was an extraordinary achievement but it was never the finish line.” He urged: “We need to protect people with a total ban, that is where the burden now lies.” 

The UK now has laws making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. It is aiming for a smoke-free generation.

“We need to aim for a smoke-free generation, such as the bill as has been implemented in the UK,” he said.

He also called for “new tobacco endgame measures” to be urgently introduced.

These should include progressive age increases, tighter licensing regulations in retail and enhanced supports for people trying to quit smoking.

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 is published in The Lancet Public Health.