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Ireland: Raising excise duty on tobacco is a "massive own goal"

Tue 8th October, 2019

Raising excise duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes by a further 50 cents, with a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products, is a "massive own goal" says Forest Ireland.

Spokesman John Mallon said:

"Raising excise duty on tobacco is a massive own goal by government. 

"Ireland is already the most expensive country in Europe to buy tobacco. Thanks to Pascal Donohoe, more smokers will buy their tobacco duty free when they are abroad, or on the black market at home.

"Increasing the excise duty on tobacco discriminates against the low paid and others who can least afford it. The only people who will benefit are the criminal gangs who sell illegal tobacco."

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