Tobacco Consumption

Overall tobacco consumption in Ireland fell during 2004, but now appears to be increasing again, against the general trend in developed economies.

Revenue for the Irish Exchequer from tobacco products fell by 8.5% to €1.059Bn from 2003 to 2004 but then increased in 2005 to €1.079. The overall decrease from 2003 (the year before the ban) to 2005 appears now to have settled at around 6.7% (www.revenue.ie).

Over the latest available period (2003-5), HM Revenue and Customs show a decrease from 54 to 50.2 billion cigarettes in clearances in the UK - a decrease of 9.3% without a ban.