Rising Smoking Rates and Failure of Ireland's Smoke-Free Strategy

Data released by the Irish Health Department in the 2021 "Healthy Ireland" survey shows that smoking rates have increased from 17% to 18% in the past two years. The Irish Vaping Business (VBI) has commented on this, attributing the rise in smoking rates to the continued refusal to use verified harm-reducing products such as e-cigarettes and stating that this is the first-hand evidence that the 2025 goal of achieving a smoke-free Ireland is failing.

Eoin O'Boyle, spokesperson for VBI, has said that these findings are in stark contrast to the UK, where tobacco harm reduction (THR) has been fully embraced. "Today's results are a major blow to the ambitious goal of establishing a smoke-free society by 2025. A contributing factor to potentially missing this target is our public health institutions' continued disregard for proven harm reduction options, such as electronic cigarettes. This stands in stark contrast to the UK, where smoking rates have been declining for a long time, a trend that has been aided by the adoption of electronic cigarettes as a less harmful alternative.

Although last year's statistic of 44% of smokers attempting to quit is encouraging, only a quarter of those attempts were successful. This brings into question whether those trying to quit are receiving enough support and information. According to O'Boyle, providing public information on reduced-risk products, including e-cigarettes, by health institutions would greatly increase the success rate of quitting smoking.

Health Ireland Survey 2021

VBI has released a summary of the results of the 2021 Healthy Ireland Survey for Ireland as follows:

Currently, 4% of the population uses electronic cigarette products, representing a 1% decrease from the 2019 figure.

Six percent of the population who smoke and three percent of non-smokers use electronic cigarettes.

Among non-smokers, 10% of former smokers use e-cigarette products, while less than 1% of never-smokers use e-cigarette products.

Over the past 12 months, 18% of individuals attempting to quit smoking have tried using e-cigarettes as a method.

Tobacco prices

Earlier this year, Ireland announced an increase in cigarette prices as part of their 2022 plan. The Wall Street Journal emphasized that taxes on a packet of 20 cigarettes have risen for the sixth year in a row and now stand at a staggering €15 per pack.

The Irish Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, has stated that the recent increase in cigarette prices is aimed at deterring smoking and supporting local public health policy goals. However, the Irish Heart Foundation believes that the increase is not enough to address the issue of young people smoking. The organization had previously recommended an increase to €20 by 2025, with a €2 increase this year, and supports the current imposition of a consumption tax on e-cigarette products.

Tobacco and Nicotine Legislation

Meanwhile, the recent Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill proposes a ban on the sale of tobacco products in temporary venues and children’s activity areas, along with prohibiting those under 18 from purchasing tobacco or nicotine inhaling products. In discussions surrounding the ban, Siobhain Brophy, of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control, told the Oireachtas Health Committee that banning e-cigarettes would have a negative impact since 38% of those attempting to quit smoking use them.