SUPPORTING SMOKERS’ RIGHTS SINCE 1979

Ireland: Forest’s response to increase in tobacco duty

Campaigners in Ireland have described the latest increase in excise duty on tobacco (50 cents on a pack of 20 cigarettes, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products) as “another kick in the teeth” for smokers.

Responding to the announcement by finance minister Paschal Donohoe in today’s Budget statement, John Mallon, spokesman for Forest Ireland, said:

“This is yet another kick in the teeth for consumers who already pay punitive levels of tax on tobacco.

“It will drive even more smokers to buy tobacco from the black market or abroad, and who would blame them?

“Apart from the less well off, the biggest losers will be legitimate retailers, many of whom can ill afford a further loss of revenue.”

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Simon Clark

Mission & Vision

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Mission

Forest’s mission is to protect the interests of adults who choose to smoke or consume tobacco.

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Our key aims and objectives are to:

  • counteract the “denormalisation” of smoking, and smokers
  • prevent further restrictions on the purchase and consumption of tobacco
  • establish closer links with other tobacco-friendly groups at home and abroad
  • build support among consumers of tobacco and other similarly threatened groups
  • highlight the increasingly intrusive nature of Big Government in the lives of private individuals