Smoking in Ireland
In Ireland, smoking is legally allowed but controlled by comprehensive tobacco control regulations. Cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products and are permitted for sale and use with some restrictions. They may be purchased through retail outlets, online platforms, and vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. However, health warnings on packaging are mandatory, the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. In addition, a complete ban on all tobacco advertising is in force. Cigarettes in Ireland are subject to an excise tax of 48.53% and a total taxation rate of 76.06%. Despite these regulatory and control measures, smoking continues to contribute to the national health burden. In 2024, there were approximately 730,000 current smokers in Ireland, representing an adult smoking prevalence of 17.2%. In the same year, prevalence was higher among males (20%) than females (14.6%). This prevalence was recorded to be 18.2% in 2022. In 2023, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was 14%, with an estimated 675,956 daily smokers. In 2021, smoking caused 3,836 deaths in Ireland, including 2,291 deaths among males and 1,546 among females. Overall, tobacco smoking resulted in 11.89% of all deaths in 2021, representing 13.62% of male deaths and 10.01% of female deaths. These statistics underscore the continued public health impact of smoking cigarette in Ireland.
Read articles from Ireland
September 17, 2021 by independent.ie
Dearer tobacco ‘may not increase tax yield’
Increasing the cost of cigarettes in the Budget may not lead to an increased tax take as smokers turn to cheaper tobacco products from other countries, as well as e-cigrarettes, the Revenue Commissioners have warned.
A strategy paper prepared by the Department of Finance looks at the impact of adding extra taxes to packets of cigarettes or roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco.
It says: “The Revenue Commissioners have expressed a view that increases in excise may not lead to increased yields, as higher cigarette prices in Ireland could reduce demand due to greater incentives to purchase non-Irish duty paid tobacco products [...]
June 04, 2021 by irishtimes.com
Tobacco firm frustrated over delay in menthol ban investigation
British American Tobacco (BAT), which trades in Ireland as PJ Carroll, has accused the State’s tobacco regulator of “inaction” for failing to rein in its commercial rivals over allegations that some of them are selling new products that it claims may be in breach of last year’s ban on menthol-flavoured cigarettes. The Health Service Executive said a year ago that it would investigate tobacco companies for allegedly breaching the Europe-wide ban on menthol flavours, which some have allegedly tried to circumvent with techniques exploiting loopholes while marketing them as menthol substitutes.
May 27, 2021 by irishexaminer.com
Teen smokers most likely to combine conventional tobacco and e-cigarettes
Teenagers who smoke are more likely to use both conventional tobacco products and e-cigarettes, while the prevalence of e-cigarette use among 15–16 year-olds has increased more than four fold since 2014.
The research indicates that adolescents don't see e-cigarettes as an adjunct to quitting a sustained smoking habit, its authors found.
The study, which involved input from almost 4,500 teenagers in the west of Ireland, did however, find young people engaged in sport may see e-cigarettes as a "healthier alternative" and that "that e-cigarettes are targeting a lower risk group who would not otherwise engage in smoking".
March 09, 2021 by thetimes.co.uk
Today’s Irish children smoke less and stress more
Fewer children in Ireland are smoking tobacco but more are using electronic cigarettes, a new study has found. The report, which looked at school-aged children’s health behaviour between 1998 and 2018, found that fewer children were using substances three years ago than twenty years ago. It also found that more than half of children exercise regularly, more children are feeling pressured by school work and more children report feeling low.
February 09, 2021 by breakingnews.ie
Ireland has highest rate of cannabis smokers in EU
Ireland has the highest rate of cannabis smokers in the European Union.
Some 17 per cent of Irish people now use products containing cannabis, according to a new survey from Eurobarometer.
Ireland also has the highest share of people who use e-cigarettes, at seven per cent against the EU average of two per cent.
Tim Hayes of the European Commission said the number of Irish people smoking cigarettes has continued to decline.
“Luckily, the number of people smoking is steadily declining in Ireland, and now only one in five smoke tobacco on a daily basis,” he said.
January 04, 2021 by breakingnews.ie
Four in five Irish smokers intend to quit in 2021
Four in five Irish smokers intent to quit in 2021 according to new HSE research.
It also found that people who stay off cigarettes for 28 days are five times more likely to quite smoking for good.
The research found that 79 per cent of Irish smokers intend to quit, two in five have set a goal to quit for 28 days, while five per cent of former smokers started again during the Covid-19 pandemic. Martina Blake, national lead, HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, said: “Most people who smoke want to quit but for many the idea of quitting can seem impossible. [...]
December 08, 2020 by filtermag.org
My Study of Providing Vapes to Unhoused Smokers in Ireland
While I was volunteering at an Irish homelessness service called Dublin Simon Community a couple of years ago, I helped work on their harm reduction policy. One day, a staff member said: “What about tobacco smoking?”
This led me down a rabbit hole which changed the way I thought about this issue. I eventually applied for a tobacco harm reduction grant and conducted a small study—looking at the challenges, opportunities and efficacy of tobacco harm reduction in the very supported temporary accommodation (STA) service in inner-city Dublin where the staff member had asked the question. [...]
October 12, 2020 by irishexaminer.com
Teens who use e-cigarettes up to five timesmore likely to start smoking
Teenagers are between three and five times more likely to start smoking if they have used electronic cigarettes previously, a new report has claimed.
The Health Research Board (HRB) [...] said its review into e-cigarette use found that e-cigarettes are associated with adolescents starting to smoke tobacco cigarettes, which could potentially lead to serious harm. Its review concluded that e-cigarettes are no more effective than approved and regulated nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) to help people stop smoking, while their safety beyond 12 months is not yet known.
October 06, 2020 by extra.ie
Irish Heart Foundation calls for higher taxes on vaping and cigarettes
The price of a packet of cigarettes should go up to €20 by 2025 to protect youngsters from becoming hooked on smoking, the Irish Heart Foundation said yesterday.
Such a hike would add almost 50% to the current €13.50 price for most brands but is needed to protect young people from nicotine addiction, the group has claimed. The IHF is also urging the Government to introduce a new tax on electronic cigarettes and vaping liquids in next week’s Budget.
September 23, 2020 by belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Number of young people smoking and drinking in Northern Ireland plummets since 2000
The latest survey looking at young people’s attitudes to smoking, alcohol and drugs shows that levels of consumption are still remaining much lower than ten years ago across Northern Ireland.
Though there has been a slight rise in the number of young people taking up smoking and having a drink, the year on year statistics still show our young people are being much more careful about taking up habits than at the turn of the century.