Cigarette sales in the Republic have fallen by 17.6 per cent this year following the introduction of the ban on smoking in the workplace.
Total clearances of cigarettes are expected to have declined 17.6 per cent versus 2003 after exchequer receipts from tobacco fell 16.2 per cent in the first 10 months of the year, according to government tax estimates published today.
At €1.03 billion, Government income from taxes on tobacco would therefore be €128 million, or 11 per cent, below what had originally been forecast for 2004, by the Department of Finance said ahead of a December 1st budget.
Minister for Finance Mr Brian Cowen said the drop was clear evidence that the smoking ban was a good public health initiative.
The number of smokers is steadily declining, falling from 31 per cent to 24 per cent of the population between 1998 and early 2003, but this year's slump in sales of cigarettes is much sharper than the 10.2 per cent drop seen in 2003.
The Government outlawed smoking in public places at the end of March and the results are being monitored in many countries which plan to follow suit.