Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
JUST UNDER A quarter of the adult population in Ireland smokes, according to the latest Healthy Ireland survey – and that proportion has not fallen since last year.
Some 23% of adults in Ireland smoke, the same proportion as in the 2015 survey.
Just under half of all smokers (48%) want to stop smoking, meanwhile – again, the same proportion recorded a year ago.
Despite Government health warnings that one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related illness, one in every five people under the age of 25 smoke, according to the survey.
Ireland was the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace back in 2004, and the Irish Cancer Society says there have been 4,000 fewer smoking-related deaths thanks to the ban.
A fifth of all women smoke (20%), a lower percentage than men (26%).
Women aged under 25 are more likely to smoke than men of the same age, the new survey found. About one in five of all adult smokers (19%) smoke daily, while 4% say they smoke occasionally.
Smoking will soon be banned in most Irish playgrounds, while the recent Budget2017 saw another 50c rise in the tax on tobacco.
A similar proportion of the Irish population (18%) are exposed to second-hand smoke on a daily basis, meanwhile. Non-smokers in more deprived areas are more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke than those in more affluent areas, the report found.
There is good news, however. Among those aged 35 and older, there are considerably more ex-smokers (32%) than current smokers (20%).
However the situation is reversed among those younger than 35: 14% are ex-smokers, but 27% are current smokers.
Heavy drinkers
The second Healthy Ireland Survey also found that just 3% of Irish people regard themselves as heavy drinkers.
Some 97% of the Irish population regard themselves as teetotal, light or moderate drinkers, although almost one in every three adults binge drink regularly.
In 2014, Ireland came second in a WHO list of countries with the worst binge-drinking, which is classified as drinking six units of alcohol (three pints, six small glasses of wine or six single spirit measures) in a single sitting.
A majority of Irish males (55%) – and roughly one in every five Irish women (18%) see themselves as binge drinkers.
A quarter of all Irish adults, however, do not drink at all.
The study was based on 7,500 Irish people over the age of 15 surveyed by Ipsos MRBI.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
“just 3% of Irish people regard themselves as heavy drinkers.”
A great way to start the morning with a joke.
Agreed! I find it convenient to name the few people I know who don’t have over drink regularly.
Rochelle: what’s a heavy drinker in your eyes?
@Ian O Connell: Anyone over about 15 stone.
Heavy is more than 1 drink per day {7 pw}, or enough to get you drunk if the avg happens to be less than 7 pw. Addict is when you can’t / won’t go more than a week without having one. Some rules of thumbs ive gathered in my exp. I find it pretty ‘accurate’, just sharing. If don’t agree good for you :)
I would say these figures would be dramatically reduced if vapors were not included as smokers
Whatever about older people, I can’t understand why a young person would take up smoking these days.
The same reasons that people your age did when they were a teenager… not that much as changed. Nicotine is still addictive, smoking is still habit forming, smoking is still rebellious and cool, young people are still influenced by friends and follow the group, parents still lecture them that smoking is bad.
We even have e-cigarettes seen as better and more acceptable than the alternative and they skirt all the smoking bans and make the habit easier to maintain…
@Drew TheChinaman :): hopefully e-cigs can cut down on teenage nicotine addiction because they look about as cool as bumbag full of FG flyers.
@Eucrid: Obviously the schools and the department of education are totally failing the children in their care. It should be a doddle to offer a course in appropriate years that would frighten the bejasus out of kids so they never start smoking.
Many smokers simple don’t understand the statistical danger of smoking. That can be properly explained. Smoking dangers could be used in Maths to explain probability. How often do you hear, “my granny smoked and lived to be 90″?
8 friends of mine are dead, all were smokers. The first died at 40, then 48, 51, and the rest in their 50′s. No non smoking friend of mine has died. (Every time I say this I know I’m tempting fate.) On my father’s side 2 of my uncles and grandfather died young, all were smokers, my father a non smoker lived to be 85.
I smoked for 14 years, and giving up was surprisingly easy. If you make it 3 days you’re laughing. Off the fags 5 years now.
Smoked for nearly 20 years myself. Found it very difficult to give up. Tried giving up many times but always relapsed. Off them 3 years now. Best decision I ever made. Have never felt so healthy.
I still admit to being a smoker but haven’t touched one in almost 17 years now. I feel great and it was the best thing I have done for myself ( & those around me) but it was hard to stop. I smoked because I loved them and was (still am) addicted to them. Hopefully I never touch one again.
Michael,
You’re no longer addicted to them. If you were, you’d be smoking them.
I know well that if I even take 1 drag from a cigarette then I will be back on them so therefore I am addicted and always will be. I was off them for 7 years before and got blasé one evening with a few beers on me and took a pull and was right back on them twice as bad so it’s day by day and I have the benefit of hindsight.
I’m sorry, but you’re not addicted to something you don’t do.
Sorry but you are incorrect, an alcoholic will always be a alcoholic even if they were never to touch another drink again. Smoking is no different.
@Karol Doran: Sorry but you are incorrect, an alcoholic will always be a alcoholic, even if they were never to touch a drink again, smoking as an addiction is no different.
Lovely fags!!!. And the government think they can make Ireland smoke free by 2025. Proves how f♥♥king deluded they are.
@Dj: Deluded and punishing us by charging ridiculous amounts of Tax which forces those on lower incomes to buy either rolling tobacco or unregulated counterfeit cigarettes thus by putting up the tax they are actually creating a massive problem in the future where much higher rates of cancer will result from government tax policies.
Typical FG complete lack of understanding of reality
Disagree Brian. Smoking going underground is fine as is less likely to attract new smokers. It’s not comparable to recreational drugs in that way. You have to smoke for a good period of time before you actually enjoy it.
@James Darcy: Smoking is not going underground ask any publican why business is down.
Read the article smoking has not dropped at all. We have just changed our culture from going to pubs to having gatherings at home where people can feel comfortable.
Fourth generation smoker by the way
I smoke rollies. I can get a 50 gram of Amber Leaf for €15. I haven’t bought tobacco in a shop in about 2 years.
People smoke for nicotine and die from the tar. You can save more money by vaping than rolling your own. I quit smoking by accident in 3 days after buying a vape pen. A proper one from a propper shop. Not a cheap crap one from a garage. After 3 days the thing paid for it self. There is a huge community and movement toward vaping if you look for it and engage. Huge support among people within the community and it is the easiest and fun way to quit smoking.
@Dj: Results of Noonan’s constant hitting smokers is an increase in unregulated cigarettes creating a massive increase in cancer down the line.
To be fair Noonan needs to be in hospital not in work at his age
@brian boru: “Deluded and punishing us by charging ridiculous amounts of Tax which forces those on lower incomes to buy either rolling tobacco or unregulated counterfeit cigarettes thus by putting up the tax they are actually creating a massive problem in the future where much higher rates of cancer will result from government tax policies.”
Just playing devils advocate here, but can any smoker say that they’re genuinely being ‘forced’ to buy tobacco of any description?
I had one before but it was a disaster. I’d use it at night time in bed, wake up in the morning and spark up.
@For Connolly: I guess forced is a little bit strong as we do all have free choice but the results of policies from the minister of finance is pretty clear. Policies are creating a massive revenue stream for organised crime as well as pushing up levels of cancer in the future.
@brian boru: You are not being forced to break the law – you have a choice – smoke or don’t smoke.
@brian boru: Typical “it’s someone else’s fault” – if you smoke and get cancer as a result then that is your fault, not the governments. There’s a short term revenue stream that doesn’t cover the massive medical costs of cancer.
Stop blaming everyone and take responsibility for your own life choices.
@nousername: I am not blaming anyone I am speaking in general terms about government policies and the direct effects upon the nation,
Try to play the ball and not the man
@brian boru:
You are, you are pixxed with the Government for hiking the price and calling them deluded because this won’t stop YOU.
You are then blaming this policy on the rise in Cancer.
You should look at the direct effect that YOUR smoking does to the nation – not the policies being introduced to STOP people from smoking.
@brian boru: And here you say again:
“Results of Noonan’s constant hitting smokers is an increase in unregulated cigarettes creating a massive increase in cancer down the line.”
The result of YOUR smoking forces YOU to buy unregulated cigarettes, creating a massive increase in cancer down the line.
You are addicted to nicotine – like a heroin addict – your perception and logic is distorted.
It’s a hard one to kick, but you should and then look back on what you are saying.
I know – because I was you.
@nousername: Preach away about how great it is not to smoke, Genuinely I am delighted for you that it has gone so well.
But the point I am making is still valid that FG policies of increasing tax on tobacco has had the effect of increasing levels of future sufferers of cancer and increased revenue for criminals.
Genuinely delighted for you and thanks so much for the update on your life
@brian boru: if they really wanted Ireland smoke free all they have to do is ban nicotine from cigarettes people would be quitting naturally as they no longer get the hit from nicotine. But the government doesn’t want you to quit as the tax take from fags would be irreplaceable. I’m on day 6 of my 100th quit, I love them and hate them all at the same time. I don’t want to smoke but love to smoke, it is quite possibly the best mind f#$k ever created!!
What’s with this “forces” Brian? Smoking is a choice, nobody’s forcing people to do it.
@Brendan Agreed 100%.
@brian boru: Thank you, but your point is not valid because no amount of revenue can cover the loss of health and the loss of life that smoking causes.
@brian boru: Good point, for all it’s worth the facts are that On the street cheap cigarettes have been shown to contain Rat poison and worse. Duty Free cigarettes are cheaper only because they are made from the scrapings, i.e. when the cigarettes are rolled the sweepings from the floor and the scrapings from the table around the rolling areas are mixed with seperate batches and used to make duty free cigarette batches, Don’t believe it ? Roll one through your fingers about halfway down, see how loose they become, also happens when you are smoking them. Compare that to a legitimate full price cigarette. I was a heavy smoker for 43 years, only complaints about brief period on Roll ups was a heavier cough and just didn’t like them. Hit 60 ordinary cigarettes a day, now 5 years on e-cigs. Less dangerous to health and a lot more economical, better than smoking. That said, we are the guinea pigs as nobody really knows what effect the ecigs will have in the long run. I have no doubt I’m better off health and money wise after 5 years on ecigs. Might not work for someone else but I sure don’t miss having to change jumpers or jackets three times a day with the horrible whiff that smokers ignore but others around nearly puke over. Nicotine is the addictive substance but apparently not as dangerous, to me yet anyway, as real cigarettes. Best option, don’t start smoking or vaping but if you must, don’t choose cigarettes. :)
@Sloop John G: Aw come on Sloop, it’s an addiction, try telling someone with the runs not to shoot from below the hips, willpower won’t do it, therefore it’s no longer a choice. Quitting is a choice but willpower alone doesn’t make that choice, give the guy a break. :)
@Odie Behan, it’s a choice to take up smoking in the first place. If you become addicted it’s your own fault so I don’t have any sympathy for people who smoke. It’s as simple as that. There have been anti-smoking campaigns going for years which have become more intense and hard hitting over the years. It even advises you of the dangers on the pack for Christ sake. What other product does that? The argument of peer pressure and it making you look cool are no longer valid. Smoking has become extremely antisocial over the years so there’s no excuse to ever start smoking.
Disgusting habit. Nothing worse then a smoker sitting beside you on a Train/Bus reeking of smoke.
Someone reeking of BO is far worse in my opinion.
@Karol Doran:
Or a sanctimonious prig!
H a ng yourself then if you don’t like being around other people in society, simple.
Smoking leads to see slow horrible depressing death. Gasping for air, COPD, Lungs filling with fluid (Pulmonary Odema) . That’s if lung cancer doesn’t get you first. Tobacco should be classified in the same category as heroin and make it illegal so sell. No Smoking addict if they’re honest would continue smoking if they had a choice. The addictive nature of the substance removes the choice for all apart from the strongest willed. Unfortunately for many, This will/ realisation comes too late for them and their family.
@Niallers: Many smokers live to a ripe old age and die of natural causes, and many non smokers die young from these so called smoking related diseases as if heart disease and all froms of cancer are the sole domain of the smoker?.
@Curragh Bill: Ah yes the old “my granny smoked 60 woodbine a day and died when she was 123″…
Gedduptheyard.
Jasus, I could do with a smoke after reading them statics. ….
Them statics Ian ?
Anyone any idea what % of people smoked back in teh day …like say in the 1950s or 1960s ?
The also leave out the effect of immigration on the numbers. I definitely see the number of Irish people smoking down on years ago.
1 million of our population are foreign nationals, with high numbers from Eastern and Central Europe, along with Turks (alleged Kurks) etc…who smoke heavily. The tabacco is often smuggled in, and it’s utterly vile to smell, never mind smoke.
@Brent Weaver: where did you get that 1 million figure from?
The CSO stats for 2016 have 593.900 people in Ireland as non-national (12.7% of total population)
That was pre decimal so I would imagine 1/38th of the population ;)
@Sean Fallon: 100%, even babies, they’d be a christening gift.
@stopit: Apologise. I was thinking “1 in 5″ of the population, were non-nationals. I was wrong.
Must have been remembering articles such as these:
http://www.thejournal.ie/one-in-five-unemployed-2011-non-nationals-534685-Jul2012/
Stopit: ide imagine that figure is a load of b o llox.
@stopit: Actually stopit. Here’s FinFacts “reaching 20% of the total population” = 1 in 5…No?
“The share of foreign-born persons living in Ireland is also very high, reaching 20% of the total population, following a sharp increase over the years 2001 to 2011. Foreign workers typically originate from other EU member states, as they benefit from free labour movement, as well as from other English-speaking countries.”
@Brent Weaver: thanks Brent.I think those articles are a bit deceptive though. I got my figure from CSO. cheers.
@stopit: Fair enough. I saw the figure in my head and knew I’d seen it in several places before (right or wrong).
Illegal cigarette sales 100% up on last year.
The introduction of electronic cigarettes to the market is probably having more of an effect on smoking habits than years of continuous attempted societal engineering through the tax system.
I’ve been an on and off smoker since I was 16.
Stopped for eight months, went back on them, stopped for a few weeks, discovered the Vape.
Nicotine is an addiction, however Nicotine is a powerful anti-depressant.
I bet may people did not know that,
Here’s and excellent slip about addiction, isolation and social stigma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg
There are worst things in the world than smokers,
@Paul Monks: We shouldn’t set the bar so low – comparing addictions to see which one is worse.
@nousername:
The war on drugs is over (bar in the Philippines), the question has to be asked why there are so many addicts? It’s usually the bright, smart people who find themselves woefully addicted to drugs. The sensitive souls, so to say.
@Paul Monks: “It’s usually the bright, smart people who find themselves woefully addicted to drugs”
Heroin doesn’t discriminate.
The war isn’t over – it is lost.
@nousername:
Exactly. It’s over.
I’m a fierce defender of Universal Healthcare, but if you are a smoker and you got cancer, you should pay for chemo yourself, no state help whatsoever to people who refuses to listen to their doctor, time after time. If you want to smoke, then you should be solely responsible for your actions, the same for extremely fat people. Universal healthcare should be there to provide a piece of mind to people who are unfortunately to fall sick. Red thumbs all around, but think of this, so many people waiting for beds in hospital, lack of staff, and your tax money have to pay for expensive treatments for these people while a elder is waiting for a hip replacement due to lack of funding, its wrong.
Fierce defender of something we don’t have!.Addicts fat people and sanctimonious pompous gits should all pay their own hospital bills.
Juan Venegas: that’s a lovely irish name ye have there.
If tobacco was brought to the market today it would never be legalised.
It would never be approved.
We need to get through to our young people about the dangers of smoking.
I I I dunno where to begin. So I’m drunk , I’m sober I’m drunk a kinda smoker, I’m drunk I’m sober I’m dead?! 25.578% of the time?
Vaping ftw.
If people want to smoke that’s grand, but the loaded taxes already on top of cigarettes should be ring fenced to pay for any medical treatment. And if the costs of the treatment goes beyond the financial pot then people should be left to pay for it themselves. After all it is well established, with decades of peer reviewed research that smoking it nothing but bad for you. If you still chose to do it, then I don’t see why my tax payer money should go to pay someone else short sightedness and stupidity when it could go to pay for someone else’s much needed medicine and treatment.
The throwaway
I concur with your sentiment but where do we stop? Do we charge obese people more or people who drink too much?
How about people who pursue dangerous activities and get injured?
Very difficult to implement.
For me the line is the difference between intent and chance. A dangerous activity like an adventure holiday certainly has a risk element and a degree of chance. But with proper planning and safety measures there is not a certainty of injury/death. Whereas with smoking there is a certainty backed by substantial research that shows each cigarette causes harm. Each person may have differing levels of harm, some may die from smoking related cancer, others may life a life without cancer, but would still certainly show the physical signs of harm caused by smoking.
So that would be my yard stick by which to measure. I’m not going to say don’t smoke (or drink, or eat sugary foods etc), but I am going to say that the risks are well published and well known. Therefore the individual that choses to do it should bear the responsibility and cost.
The youth hostel in Nantes is an old tobacco factory. According to the plaque on the wall, it was built along the lines of a fortress, as they anticipated the possibility of the masses rioting and trying to gain entry. Right from the start, they knew what they were doing, which was of course to make a fortune from addiction. But it’s legal . . .
I would actually like to know the average age of this 23% that still smoke . I’d imagine it’s many people in the later stages of life. Smoking is not cool with the younger generation now
Stupid posers.
Wonder how much the government is pulling in with the price of cigarettes through the roof and set to go up again. Wouldn’t be surprised if we need smokers as a baseline to our budget. Clearly hiking the price up does not make enough people quit instead it’s just a sly way to leverage addicts.
It would be nice if they all gave up smoking but for some it is very difficult. The brain chemistry (biochemistry) controls a lot . In women particularly some have high copper in the blood. That produces adrenaline and makes them anxious.Sometimes they even get panic attacks. If they do not smoke the adrenaline is more active. It is possible to get the copper down over a few months with the right nutrients and then many women give up smoking spontaneously. High copper level is the main cause of post-natal depression. Musical and artistic people tend to have high copper too.Some who do not smoke control the anxiety by drinking and overall copper is a big problem in Ireland.
Ahh lovely fags
ive used the vapour i had kanger one there so messy the oil goes everywhere
Try using eliquid instead of oil, I believe it tastes better ;)
Vapping looks like some one is sucking off R2D2
have your say