40,000 smokers would quit if price went up 10%
Nearly 40,000 Irish people would quit smoking if the price of
twenty cigarettes increased to €6.98. That is according to research
done by the EU anti-smoking campaign, 'Help - for a life without
tobacco', which shows that a 10% price increase in high income
countries results in a 4% reduction in smoker numbers.
This makes tax and price increases the single biggest factor in
encouraging people to quit, especially among younger smokers and
people on low incomes. Surveys carried out on French smokers
between 1999 and 2003 showed an overall reduction in smoking by 12%
during the period with the price factor jumping from fourth to
first place among reasons cited for quitting over the same
period.
Professor Luke Clancy, Chairman of ASH Ireland, said:
"If we are serious about becoming a nation of non-smokers, the
government has to start paying attention to the data. Price
increases stop people smoking and deter young people from starting.
Every budget should see a minimum increase of 10% -if we are
serious about tobacco control."
"Imagine the price of twenty cigarettes rose to €10 over the
next three years - how many lives would be saved?" said Professor
Clancy.
However the impact of price increases is reduced in a number of
ways, including economic prosperity, illict trade, and
significantly for Irish smokers through the purchase of cigarettes
in other countries. Countries like Portugal and Spain and the
Canary Islands - destinations popular with Irish tourists - sell
cigarettes for two to three euro per pack and the price drops again
for bulk buying. Hardcore smokers looking to make real savings will
have to travel to the Balkans where prices are lowest. Latvia,
Lithuania and Estonia charge €1.08, €1, 23 and €1.73
respectively.
At present, Ireland is the fourth most expensive country in
Europe to buy cigarettes, after Norway (€8.02), Iceland (€7.57) and
the UK (€7.36), making twenty cigarettes €1 cheaper in the Republic
of Ireland than in the North. Other factors that lessen the impact
of price increases include hand-rolling tobacco, discount brands
and inventive pricing measures undertaken by tobacco companies.
The 'Help - for a life without tobacco' campaign aims to
convince people in the 25 member states of Europe to not start or
quit smoking.