Ireland: Eleven Tobacco Convictions in Q1

Source from:  Irish Medical Times 06/12/2014

The HSE has published details of 11 convictions for tobacco-related offences in the first three months of 2014, mainly involving licensed premises, with fines ranging from between €100 and €1,600.

From the time of the commencement of Section 47 in 2004, until the end of 2013, a total of 251 prosecutions have been taken by the HSE, resulting in 263 convictions.

In relation to the sale of tobacco to minors, the HSE undertakes compliance checks, also known as test purchases, in retail outlets to determine if retailers will sell tobacco products to minors.

The HSE's test purchase programme, together with associated retail audits, have highlighted a significant ongoing noncompliance issue. As a result, there have been 43 prosecutions with 33 convictions between 2009 and 2013. These were mainly in respect of licensed premises including pubs, nightclubs and hotels.

In recent years, more than 50 per cent of prosecutions have related to smoking areas in licensed premises, with a number of owners and proprietors having been prosecuted and convicted on multiple occasions.

The HSE's Environmental Health Service enforces a range of legislative and regulatory measures.  Of the 11 convictions in the first three months of 2014, three of which related to sales to minors and eight to smoking in the workplace.

Donegal accounted for the majority of convictions, and included: Colls Bar, Gortahork; Bay Bush Bar, Ballintra; Jamesies Bar, Ballintra; The Cottage Bar, Letterkenny; The Corner Shop, Letterkenny; and Today's Extra/ Falcarragh Service Station. Another unnamed individual from Gortahork received a ?200 fine.

Others fined or removed from the register included: SPY Nightclub, Monaghan; The Market Bar, Fade Street, Dublin 2; an unnamed retail shop in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford; and a further unnamed licensed premises in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary.

HSE Environmental Health Tobacco Lead, Dave Molloy, said: "In general, compliance with the Public Health (Tobacco) Act has been high. However, significant problems still remain in relation to smoking in the workplace, and also in relation to sales of tobacco products to minors." Enditem