Sir, - Professor Peter Daly stresses the need for more government action aimed at the community control of smoking (Irish Times, 13/8/1997). The World Health Organisation states that the single most effective way governments can act is to increase taxation on cigarettes. This is particularly effective in discouraging the young to smoke and in reducing smoking among the less well off. Young people and the less well off have the highest proportion of smokers in this country.
I have been a member of the Irish Cancer Society's pre-budget delegation to the Department of Finance on several occasions. We have always stressed the importance of increased taxation as an effective method of control. However, the officials of the Department remind us that cigarettes are one of the "basket" of items included by the Central Statistics Office in the consumers' price index, and that a substantial increase in tobacco tax would adversely affect this index.
If the Government is sincere and realistic about better tobacco control, it should agree with the trade unions and others concerned with our economic well-being to remove tobacco from the list of items included in the household budget when determining the index.
Pro Daly is echoing the long-standing views of the medical profession about the major role of cigarettes in causing chronic ill health and premature death. An effective attack on smoking by the Government might reduce the level of tobacco tax accruing to the exchequer, but it would lead to a substantial reduction in sickness expenditure and it would leave more money available for other taxable consumer spending. More importantly, it would greatly improve the health and longevity of the people of Ireland, and a more proactive Government policy would receive the approbation of the great majority of the electorate.-Yours, etc., RISTEARD MULCAHY,
Pro of Preventive Cardiology (Emeritus), St Vincent's Hospital and University College, Dublin. Roebuck Road, Dublin 14.