Budget 2024: 75c price hike a ‘spiteful attack’ on smokers

WHILE an increase in the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes has always been a staple of past budgets, the announcement that a 20-pack would rise by 75c was even higher than the 50c hike sought by Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) in its pre-budget submission.

The ASI chief executive Eilis Ní Chaithnia welcomed the higher than sought increase but was critical of the delay in implementing a tax on e-cigarettes and vaping products until next year.

“11% of our young people under 25 are using e-cigarettes and action is urgently needed to limit their detrimental health impacts. Inhaling these aerosol products — even through passive exposure — has been shown to negatively impact respiratory health among adolescents and are shown to significantly worsen asthma symptoms,” Ms Ní Chaithnia said.

“We welcome taxation measures that will discourage use of e-cigarettes but will continue to work with the Government to ensure more is done, specifically in terms of behavioural change, regulation and public educational campaigns warning young people about the risks of vaping to their lung health.”

Minister McGrath said that he was proposing to introduce a domestic tax on e-cigarettes but that this was being delayed until next year to allow what he termed “considerable preparatory work” to be carried out.

The increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes was punishing smokers, a spokesman for the lobby group, Forest Ireland, said.

“Smokers don’t deserve this,” John Mallon of Forest Ireland said.

“Not only does it discriminate against consumers on lower income, it will drive even more smokers to the black market.

“Excise duty on tobacco was already at punitive levels. Raising it again by 75c is a spiteful attack,” he said.