Republic of Ireland

Ireland became the first country to enact a comprehensive nation-wide smoke-free law in 2004. The ITC project has been able to monitor the effects of that law on reactions and perceptions of smokers, and will continue to report on the effectiveness of new tobacco control policies as they are implemented. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was signed and ratified on September 16, 2003, and November 7, 2005, respectively.

Country Profile:

Smoking Prevalence and Associated Costs:

• Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use in Ireland.
• Smoking prevalence for both sexes have been declining since the 1980s, and stood in 2004 at 24%. This is down from 29% in 1994, which was already brought down from 35% in 1980.
• In 2000, smoking accounted for 18% of all deaths in Ireland.

Smoking Policies:

• Ireland is the first country in the world to ban smoking in enclosed workplaces that included bars and restaurants.
• Ireland has no legislation in place that restricts the sale of tobacco in vending machines and self-service displays.
• The minimum age for purchasing tobacco in Ireland is 18 years old.

ITC Researchers:

Shawn Allwright (Principal Investigator)
Fenton Howell
Luke Clancy

Ireland policy table

ITC Affiliated Institutions:

Sources: World Health Organization, CIA World Factbook, Ireland Office of Tobacco Control, Tobacco Control. (14): 73 - 74. 2005.

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Scotland

The ITC Scotland Project launched its first wave in 2004 (along with ITC Ireland) and completed its final wave of surveys in 2007.

Country Profile:

Smoking Prevalence and Related Costs:

• 25% of the Scottish populations smokes
• smoking is most common among 25 to 34 year old men (34%) and this is also the age gruop where there is the alrgest differences between men and women.  Smoking increases among males between the ages of 16-24 and 25-34 but the same pattern is not seen in women
• in 2004, 1403 men and 1504 women in Scotland died from chronic obstructive and lower respiratory diseases
• in 2005, 2151 mena dn 1772 women in Scotland died from lung cancer
• in 2005, just over a third of all accidental dwelling fire deaths in the UK were caused by smokers' materials (i.e. cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco)

Smoking Policies:

• taxation on tobacco is currently 63% of the retail price
• direct advertising is banned on nationa (but not international) TV and radio and local magazines and newspapers
• all healthcare facilities, educational facilities, governmental facilities, and indoor offices and workplaces are smoke-free
• all pubs, bars and restaurants are also smoke-free
• on October 1, 2008, the UK government will require pictoral warnings on cigarette packages (currently require text warnings that cover 30% of display area)

ITC Researchers:

Gerard Hastings (Principal Investigator for United Kingdom)
Fiona Harris
Louise Hassan
Anne-Marie MacKintosh
Ann McNeill

Scotland policy table

Ireland/Scotland Contact Information

Mary McNally,Project Manager. Email: m2mcnall@uwaterloo.ca

Sources: Registrar General's Review of Scotland's Population, Scottish Publish Health Observatory website, Scottish Government website, Tobacco Information Scotland website, WHO MPower Report 2008

Click here for the ITC Ireland/Scotland survey questionnaires.