Ireland: Forest's response to increase in tobacco duty

Tue 13th October, 2020

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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