Smoking rates highest in 11 years

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 02 November 2009 15:36

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Despite the implementation of the smoking ban, there is no evidence of any decline in smoking in Ireland with smoking rates at an 11-year high of 33 per cent, according to a new EU survey.


This finding indicates the need for higher prices on cigarettes and better treatment of tobacco dependence, the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society (RIFTFS) has stated in response.

 

According to a survey of 4,082 Irish people, conducted as part of the EU “Help – For A Life Without Tobacco” survey, the rate of smokers in Ireland is now at the highest in 11 years, at approximately one third (33 per cent) of the population.

The results of the SLÁN su­rvey 2007, released last month, showed the rate of smoking here decreased from 33 per cent in 1998 to 27 per cent in 2002 and then began to rise in 2007 to 29 per cent.

Meanwhile, a study by a team of researchers, including from RIFTFS, which examined the period between 2005 and 2007, showed a continual reduction in active smoking prevalence in children and that the workplace smoking ban introduced in March 2004 did not lead to a significant increase in secondhand smoke exposure amongst Irish children at home as had been feared.

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