Tobacco Use Cost Ireland €650m in 2007

Tobacco use cost the Irish economy more than €650m in 2007, according to research published today at the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin. The authors of the Tobacco Atlas report say the cost was incurred through premature deaths, tobacco-related declines in productivity and missed taxation opportunities due to cigarette smuggling. The report says tobacco consumption across the world cost various countries around €350bn in 2007. It says around six million people will die as a result of tobacco consumption next year. However, Ireland is cited as one of the global leaders in tobacco control because of the workplace smoking ban, high taxes on cigarettes and effective advertising campaigns. Enditem