Alcohol and tobacco: The price of old reliables including cigarettes and alcohol remain unchanged following yesterday's Budget.

The Government's decision not to increase tax on these products as well as its decision to maintain tax breaks for private hospitals were sharply criticised last night.

The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said the fact that there were no tobacco tax increases in this or last year's Budgets, together with rising incomes and relatively low inflation, means cigarettes are more affordable now than ever.

"Sadly we can only deduce from today's budget that concerns over inflation have won out over public health policy" the OTC Chairperson, Dr Michael Boland, said.

Ash Ireland, which had sought a €2 increase in the cost of 20 cigarettes said it was "bitterly disappointed" with the zero increase in the price of tobacco.

"This approach to tobacco price runs totally contrary to the Government's stated policy of creating a tobacco free society," it said in a statement.

Prof Luke Clancy, chairman of Ash Ireland, said price increase was established internationally as the single most important factor in encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging young people from experimenting with tobacco.

The Irish Heart Foundation also expressed disappointment at the Government's decision not to increase tax on tobacco products.

Its chief executive Michael O'Shea said: "Price is the greatest single disincentive to young people taking up smoking, so naturally we are disappointed. It is also an incentive to existing smokers to quit."

President of the Irish Medical Organisation Dr Asam Ishtiaq said he was "aghast" the Government had neglected to increase excise duty on alcohol. This was flying in the face of the Government's own strategic taskforce on alcohol.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association said Minister for Finance Brian Cowen had missed an opportunity to address the growing problem of binge drinking by not increasing the cost of alcohol.