Smokers won’t be put off by forceful tactics

I NOTE Prof Luke Clancy of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) is back trying to persuade Finance Minister Brian Cowen to add €2 to the price of a packet of cigarettes in the forthcoming budget.

The professor always says he is trying to “encourage” smokers to quit, but his actions and those of his organisation demonstrate that he is in fact attempting to force smokers to do his bidding.

A survey of prices in 27 European countries last July showed that in Ireland, tobacco products are 86% more expensive than the European average.

This means that a smoker in Ireland currently pays €6.40 a pack for what should be €3.44 and is available in some European countries for less than €1 a pack.

If anything, Mr Cowen might consider dropping the price of cigarettes here by €2 and he’d still be well above the European average.

Smoking is legal and nearly one-third of the population choose to exercise their right to smoke whether the professor likes it or not.

As a medical man he has every right to encourage smokers to quit, as indeed he might encourage us all to eat less and exercise more, etc.

But he goes well beyond his brief in trying to pressurise and influence the Minister for Finance.

The professor’s actions will not force smokers to quit, but they might force many of them to buy smuggled cigarettes at a much more affordable price, even if this means engaging in minor criminal activity.

John Mallon

Shamrock Grove

Mayfield

Cork