News Releases
Poll: 70% of adults in Ireland say buying cigarettes from the black market or abroad is "understandable"
Thu 8th October, 2020
+ 70% of adults (including 67% of non-smokers) say purchasing cigarettes from the black market or other countries is 'understandable' given high cost of legal tobacco in Ireland
+ 65% think the current rate of tobacco duty is ‘too high’, a ‘little high’ or ‘about right’
+ only one in four (25%) think tobacco duty is ‘too low’ or a 'little low'
+ support for Sinn Féin significantly higher among smokers
An overwhelming majority of adults in Ireland think that purchasing cigarettes and tobacco from the black market or other countries is 'understandable' given the high cost of tobacco sold legally in Ireland.
According to a survey conducted by iReach for the smokers' group Forest Ireland, 70% of adults agree that it is 'somewhat understandable' (40%) or 'very understandable' (30%) that smokers might choose not to buy cigarettes and tobacco from legitimate retailers in Ireland.
That view was supported by 85% of smokers and two-thirds (67%) of non-smokers. Only one in five (20%) of all adults found it not understandable.
The survey, which was conducted from 24th to 30th September, also found that 65% of adults think the current level of tobacco duty – almost 80% on an average pack of cigarettes in Ireland – is either too high (22%), a little high (11%) or about right (32%).
Only one in four (25%) think tobacco duty is too low (21%) or a little low (4%).
The iReach poll also found that 29% of all adults would vote for Fine Gael if there was an election tomorrow, followed by Sinn Féin at 25% and Fianna Fáil at 13%.
Support for Sinn Féin was significantly higher among smokers. According to iReach, 34% of smokers would vote for Sinn Féin, 26% for Fine Gael and 14% for Fianna Fáil.
Forest Ireland is urging the government to reject calls to increase the tax on tobacco. In its submission ahead of next week’s Budget, the group called on Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to “give smokers a break”.
Spokesman John Mallon said:
"A further tax hike will encourage even more smokers to buy tobacco abroad or on the black market because there is very little stigma associated with such transactions.
“For most people, including non-smokers, it is perfectly understandable given the punitive level of tobacco duty in this country.”
He added:
“The price of tobacco bought legally in Ireland is among the highest in the world. This is nothing to be proud of.
“Increasing tobacco duty again will further discriminate against the poor and those who are just about managing.
"We urge the government to take into account public opinion, freeze tobacco duty, and give smokers a break.”
Previous story
Campaigners slam call to introduce new tax on e-cigarettesIn this section
Browse Stories
-
2023
-
September
-
May
-
April
-
March
-
January
-
-
2022
-
December
-
October
-
September
-
July
-
June
-
January
-
-
2021
-
December
-
November
-
October
-
September
-
August
-
July
-
June
-
May
-
March
-
February
-
-
2020
-
November
-
October
-
September
-
August
-
July
- Forest condemns Local Government Association call to ban smoking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants
- Forest condemns move to ban smoking outside pubs and cafes
- Forest rejects claim that plain packaging was responsible for "accelerating" decline in cigarette sales
- Scotland's CMO told to stop fuelling "unwarranted fears" about smoking and vaping
-
May
- Councils must prioritise help for local businesses not stop smoking services
- Menthol cigarette ban is a "gross restriction on consumer choice that will do nothing to stop children smoking"
- Prohibition: A bad idea that won't go away
- Almost three million smokers unaware of menthol cigarette ban
- Forest slams call for new rules on smoking outside pubs and cafes if government relaxes lockdown regulations
- Menthol cig ban will hit smokers at the worst possible time says Forest
-
April
-
March
-
February
-
-
2019
-
October
-
September
- Implying that smokers are a financial burden to society is "dishonest" and "economically illiterate" says Forest
- Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes would be a "massive own goal"
- Ireland: ‘Butt Out’ campaign aims to stop cigarette vending machine ban
- Poll: Public split on effectiveness of tobacco control laws
- Ban on flavoured e-cigarettes would be "criminal", says Forest
- Budget 2020: "Give smokers a break" says Forest Ireland
-
August
-
July
-
May
-
March
-
February
-
January
-
-
2018
-
December
-
November
-
October
-
September
-
August
- "A bin the butt campaign that ignores the importance of bins is a bit of a joke, to be honest."
- Vaping not a substitute for all prisoners who smoke, says Forest
- Prisons minister urged to amend prison smoking ban
- Cautious welcome for report on e-cigarettes
- Forest condemns Welsh Government plans to extend the smoking ban
-
July
-
June
-
May
-
April
-
March
-
February
- Lift ban on vaping on hospital grounds, says Forest
- Forest Ireland criticises ban on smoking at three mental health units in Cork
- Ireland: Forest attacks proposal to ban smoking in outdoor areas where food is served
- War on smoking has gone far enough, Forest tells mayor
- E-cigarettes: "You can't force smokers to switch if they don't want to"
-
January
-
-
2017
-
December
-
November
- Plain packs: Forest calls for UK policy review following "five years of failure" in Australia
- Budget 2017: Poor sacrificed on altar of public health, says Forest
- Senator wins 'nanny-in-chief' award
- NGOs and politicians to be honoured at 'Golden Nanny Awards' in Dublin
- Tobacco tax: give smokers a break, says Forest
-
October
-
July
-
June
-
May
-
April
-
March
-
January
-
-
2016
-
December
-
October
-
September
-
August
-
June
-
May
- Health minister should decline WHO award
- Forest urges Government to reject tobacco retailer licensing system
- Forest response to High Court judgement on plain packaging challenge
- Opponents of plain packaging invoke spirit of Churchill
- Tobacco Products Directive treats adults like children says Forest
-
March
- Councils urged to review funding of anti-tobacco campaign group
- Allow smoking rooms in Scotland's pubs and clubs, say campaigners
- Poll: Majority of adults in Scotland would allow smoking rooms in pubs and clubs
- Forest welcomes defeat of Public Health (Wales) Bill
- "Increasing cost of tobacco benefits no-one apart from spivs and criminals"
- Forest slams "pointless" car smoking ban
- Poll: Little support for further increases in tobacco taxation
- Increasing tobacco taxation is "economic madness"
-
February
- Jury still out on plain packaging says Forest
- Campaigners urge Chancellor to "be fair to smokers"
- Forest slams call for more cash to reduce adult smoking rate
- Axe the tobacco duty escalator, says Forest
- Forest welcomes closure of anti-smoking group
- Forest criticises call to rate movies that portray tobacco use
-
-
2015
-
December
-
October
-
September
-
August
-
July
-
June
-
May
-
March
- Smoking in cars with children: "education better than big stick"
- Leave health workers alone, says Forest
- Plain packaging process has been a "sham"
- "What next? Standardised packaging for alcohol and sugary drinks?"
- No public desire for plain packaging say campaigners
- Stop the nonsense say critics of plain packaging
-
February
-
January
- Government must resist temptation to over-regulate electronic cigarettes, says Forest
- Government urged to publish plain pack consultation report "promptly" and "without further delay"
- Forest condemns decision to bring forward plain packaging legislation
- Campaigners urge Scottish Government to reject new laws on e-cigs and tobacco
-
-
2014
-
December
-
November
-
October
-
August
-
July
-
June
-
May
-
April
-
March
-
February
-
-
2013
-
2012
-
August
-
June
-
March
-
February
-
January
-
-
2011
-
November
-
October
-
September
-
August
-
July
-
June
- Tory MP leads opposition to ban on smoking in cars
- Inner city pubs stubbed out by smoking ban
- Register now if you want to change the smoking ban
- ASH awarded WHO medal on 40th "birthday"
- Imperial warns of "nanny state"
- Don't discriminate against smokers, Forest tells NHS
- Imperial Tobacco praised for tobacco consultation response
-
May
-
March
-