Ireland retailers claim since display ban smuggling up - denied by health campaigners..

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July 2, 2010 - Sales of licit cigarettes in Ireland have fallen by 40 percent in the 12 months since the imposition of a ban on in-store tobacco displays, according to the claims of retailers. Smoking is not thought to have diminished, but more demand is now being met by the illicit (illegal) trade.

If the 40 percent figure is correct and if this drop in licit sales has been caused by the display ban, Ireland can be said to have experienced a most extraordinary shift in its tobacco trade.

Barry Gilsenan, of Retailers Against Smuggling, said the year-old ban had normalised criminal trade in contraband tobacco, which now accounted for a quarter of all cigarette sales in the country. Gilsenan - "This was inevitable I hate to say,” he said. “When cigarettes are kept out of sight, it is very easy to trade illegal
tobacco."

Health campaigners from the Irish Cancer Society and ASH Ireland disputed the figures and rejected suggestions an ad ban was to blame for increased smuggling.

Reference: Cigarette sales down 40% in ad ban, United Kingdom Press Association (UKPA), 7/1/2010.

Some Ireland related news briefs:
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2010/06/ireland-highest-tobacco-prices-in-eu.html;

Ireland - Illicit tobacco trade booms..;
Ireland - no increase in excise duty on tobacco products worry about smuggling..;
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Ireland - harder to quit when switching to low tar cigarettes..;
Ireland - after 2004 smoking ban decline in maternal smoking rates as well as lower risk for preterm births..;
Ireland - cancer society urges government to increase cigarette tax..;
Ireland - increase fine for cigarettes imported illegally..;
Ireland - roll your own cigarettes making a comeback..;
Ireland - lots of smokers - lots of sickness - resulting in premature death - THIS HAS TO STOP..;
Ireland - people responding well to the ban on cigarette displays..;
Ireland - Prof Clancy not enough spent on prevention..;
Ireland - tobacco vendors must register by October 1, 2009..;
Children - exposed to cigarette smoke in cars have greater chance of respiratory distress..;
Ireland - tobacco companies not helping small retailers - display ban..;
Tobacco control initiatives starting Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictoral warnings..;
Ireland - as of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;
Ireland - may raise tax on cigarettes as part of emergency budget..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ireland - further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced on 1 July 2009.;
Ireland - 80% of smokers want a ban on tobacco advertising in shops to stop youngsters starting the habit..;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Ireland - reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome...