Another Increase In Tobacco Sales
(30/07/06)
One of the
biggest benefactors of the Irish smoking ban has been the tobacco
companies with Europe's fourth largest manufacturer Gallaher
reporting another surge in sales in Ireland.
Recent accounts released by tobacco
giant Gallaher show a 2% increase in volume of sales in Ireland. This
covers the period of 2005 with the trend in sales growth expected to
have continued into 2006. This follows on from figures released by
Imperial Tobacco who reported a 4% increase in their sales to March
2006. Such increases would have been unexpected and unlikely prior to
the introduction of the smoking ban and completely rubbishes claims by
it's proponents that it would lead to a decrease in smoking. The
opposite has occurred vindicating those who warned a ban would give
smoking an added allure and make it more attractive especially to the
young.
Despite the
failure of the ban to reduce smoking not to mention millions wasted on
anti smoking campaigns, ASH Ireland are
unwilling to admit they were wrong or responsible for reversing the
established downward trend in cigarette consumption. Chairman Luke
Clancy instead has demanded an increase of €2 in tax on a twenty pack of
cigarettes from the government which would raise the price to
€8.50.
With a general election next year it remains to be seen if the Irish
Government at Clancy's behest will punish smokers for their failure to
obey his will to stop smoking.
