Budget 2019: Forest Ireland responds to increases in excise duties on tobacco

Tue 9th October, 2018

John Mallon, spokesman for the smokers’ group Forest Ireland, said, “Smokers have been the whipping boys of successive governments for far too long.

"A further increase in tobacco duties, including the Minimum Excise Duty, is immoral because it deliberately targets low earners and others who can least afford it."

He added:

“Smokers expect to pay a fair level of tax on what is a potentially unhealthy product but there is no logic in pursuing a policy that discriminates against the poor, hurts legitimate retailers and enriches criminal gangs and governments abroad.”

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