Sales of cigarettes in pubs may be down by 60 per cent Carl O'Brien
Sales of cigarettes in pubs have dropped dramatically since the introduction of the smoking ban, according to latest figures compiled by vending machine operators. However, while the vending firms say sales have fallen by between 50 and 60 per cent, newsagents around the country have reported a much smaller decline in sales. It is still unclear what impact the decrease in sales will have on Exchequer figures, although the Department of Finance has estimated that smoking overall will fall this year by 6 per cent, which amounts to €66 million in excise receipts. Major tobacco manufacturers, such as Gallahers, John Player and Sons and PJ Carroll and Co, said yesterday it was still too early to determine the full impact of the tobacco ban on cigarette sales. The operators of vending machines, which up until now accounted for around one-fifth of tobacco sales, say as many as 250 jobs are at risk in the coming weeks if low sales continue. "By the end of this month, we will all have to start letting people go," said Mr Gerry Lawlor, spokesman for the Irish Cigarette Machine Operators' Association (ICMOA). "People are under severe pressure, particularly in Dublin." Mr Val Murphy, a Cork-based vending machine owner, said that he had already laid off one of his staff. Mr Pat McKeown, chief executive of the Irish Retail Newsagents' Association, said there was "anecdotal" evidence from members around the country of a decrease in sales, although less dramatic than in pubs. Mr Eanna Ó Briain, of Keogh's News, Sutton Cross, Dublin, said initial figures showed sales had dropped in the region of just 1 or 2 per cent. Privately, tobacco firms says they are less worried about the effects of the smoking ban on sales and are more concerned over plans to further restrict the display of cigarettes in shops under new legislation. Pharmacies, meanwhile, say sales of nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine patches, have increased by around 15 per cent. "It's been a wonderful opportunity for people to give up cigarettes," said Mr Richard Collis, a pharmacist and president of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union. "The biggest barrier for many smokers was going to the pub. Most people tended to relapse when they were in the pub on a Saturday night. Now they don't have to worry about that." Dr Luke Clancy, a consultant respiratory physician and chairman of the anti-smoking group ASH, said he was not surprised at the initial drop in sales. "Many people are using the ban as an opportunity to either give up or reduce their levels of smoking."
© The Irish Times
Tomorrow will be an historic day in the Republic of Ireland. It will be exactly one year since the initial introduction of the once controversial . The ban, introduced on March 29 2004, made Ireland the first country in world to completely ban smoking in all workplaces.

The idea was initially met with much skepticism by the Irish who traditionally had a worldwide image as a land of drinkers and smokers. However despite this early uncertainty, the ban has been a huge success. Cigarettes sales have fallen by as much as 60% in , with the country's biggest tobacco brand, , reporting an overall drop in sales of 7.5%.

The   announced earlier this month that over 7,000 had given up smoking in the past twelve months. A survey by the  showed 82% supported the ban. Anti-smoking lobby groups such as ASH had been calling for a ban for many years prior to the Government's initiative.

On 3 December 2003, New Zealand passed the  which lead it to become the second nation to impose a total ban. Its ban came into effect nine months after Ireland's, on 10 December 2004. In January of this year Italy also introduced a ban. Sweden intends to go smoke free in June of this year and in Scotland, the  hopes to have a ban in effect by early 2006.