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Ireland’s 2015 Report on the European Schools Project on Alcohol & other Drugs in Ireland (ESPAD) released 20th Sept 2016Dramatic reduction in teenage drinking and smoking but concerns over e-cigarettes, drugs and gambling
Smoking and drinking among 15-16 year-old school students are falling dramatically, but challenges posed by illicit drug use remain. In this age group, Ireland has much lower levels of drinking, binge drinking and smoking than the European average, but higher use of cannabis, inhalants and other drugs. Full European report also released Sept 20th 2016, read here

  • Ban on cigarette vending machines:  Listen to Morning Ireland:
  • Professor Clancy warned, 'we urgently need to plan the studies necessary to monitor the effects of Plain Packaging on smoking in adults and children’ ​at the Tobacco Free Island workshop hosted by the IPH on 14th June. 
  • A new report from the Institute of Public Health finds that the vast majority of Local Authorities are moving towards smoke-free playgrounds
  • E-cigarettes as a gateway to tobacco: A US study finds that teenagers who use e-cigarettes are more to become tobacco-smokers. 
  • Professor Luke Clancy joined Jonathan Healy on Newstalk to discuss Finian McGrath's controversial comments on smoking, 16th May.
  • With all of the information flying around for World No Tobacco Day you might have missed this new WHO document on plain packaging. 
  • Letter in the Irish Times May 19th 2016 from Environmental Health Association Ireland regarding comments of Mr. Finian McGrath who referred to smokers as “soft targets”
  • European Court of Justice upholds Tobacco Products Directive:Great news from the European Court of Justice – all three challenges against the EU Tobacco Products Directive were rejected today May 4th 2016.      The Court rejected the challenge brought by Philip Morris and British American Tobacco which sought to invalidate the TPD as a whole, or alternatively various provisions of the Directive including, inter alia, mandatory large pictorial warnings, the ban on characterising flavours and measures concerning tracking and tracing.
  • An assessment of the economic costs of smoking in Ireland: Key findings:It is estimated that smoking causes 5,870 deaths per annum with an additional 92 per annum as a result of exposure to second hand smoke (SHS).  This is an increase from an estimated 5,200 deaths per annum previously calculated, the increase is due to more cancers and respiratory diseases being attributable to smoking than heretofore.
    Healthcare costs
    The estimated cost to the healthcare system as a result of smoking is over a half a billion euro (€506 million) as outlined below:
    ·        Hospital based costs €211 million
    ·        Primary care costs €256 million
    ·        Domiciliary care costs €40 million.
    Residential Solid Fuel and Air Pollution Study
  • The European Parliament is urged to reject the renewal of EU agreement with the tobacco industry.  In Brussels, 9th March 2016 –  MEPs were  asked to vote for or against the 2016/2555 resolution, which firmly encourages the European Commission to cease any agreement or negotiation with Philip Morris International (PMI) to tackle smuggled and illicit tobacco trade. This kind of agreement with the tobacco industry is now in direct conflict with WHO FCTC article 5.3, signed and ratified by the EU, which highly requires all parties to reject any type of partnership and agreement with the tob