Price hike won’t deter smokers

SO Brian Cowen gave in to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and their fanatical anti-smokers by adding 30 cent to the price of cigarettes.

You would think the carping bodies such as the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and ASH would be delighted that we are now the most expensive country in Europe for tobacco of any kind, but they are not.

The IHF expressed disappointment and ASH added that the move flew in the face of Government strategy on a “tobacco-free society”.