200,000 less smoking than six years ago

The number of smokers in Ireland has dropped by almost 200,000 in the last six years, a major conference on European tobacco control has heard.

The number of smokers in Ireland has dropped by almost 200,000 in the last six years, a major conference on European tobacco control has heard.

The two-day conference entitled 'Change in the Air': Future Directions in Tobacco Control in the EU began in Limerick today and is being hosted by the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) to coincide with Ireland's Presidency of the European Union.

Earlier today, delegates were told that up to 660,000 people across Europe are dying annually because of tobacco-related illness.

It was further revealed that 4.9million people die prematurely throughout the world every year as a result of tobacco-related illnesses.

Addressing the conference this morning, Minister for Health Micheál Martin said that in 1998, nearly one-third of the Irish population smoked compared to just 25% now.

After his address Minister Martin - who recently introduced the workplace smoking ban - was the recipient of a the Special Director-General's award from the World Health Organisation for his contribution to tobacco control in Ireland.

Minister Martin is only one of two recipients of this award in 2004 and the only awardee from Europe.

Presenting the award, Dr Catherine Le Gales-Camus, WHO Assistant Director General paid tribute to Minister Martin's "strong leadership".

"On March 29th 2004, Ireland became the first European country to implement legislation creating smoke-free enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants. This ground breaking measure demonstrates Minister Martin's strong leadership and steadfastness in putting public health to the fore," said Dr Le Gales-Camus.

During her address, Dr Le Gales-Camus said tobacco is killing 4.9million people throughout the world. The World Health Organisation also predicts that the premature death toll due to tobacco will double to 9.8million people annually over the next 20 years if current trends continue.

"In terms of the number of deaths worldwide, annually 4.9million people die prematurely from tobacco use, placing it as the second biggest cause of death in the world and the number one cause of preventable deaths," said Dr Le Gales-Camus.

The conference also heard that more than 660,000 EU citizens are dying annually because of tobacco use with 26% of all cancer deaths and 15% of all deaths in the Union attributed to smoking.

Addressing the same conference, EU Commissioner, David Byrne, urged other European states to implement a ban on smoking in the workplace.

"The future of Europe must be smoke free. Countries face, not just a public health, but also a moral imperative to protect their workers front the dangers of second hand smoke," he said.

"In parts of Europe, the average age for smoking is 11 years. In many countries, smoking rates for women are actually increasing. Despite our many achievements it is clear that we cannot simply afford to rest on our laurels. We must keep up the momentum," commented Commissioner Byrne.

Meanwhile, Minister Martin confirmed yesterday that his Department will "robustly defend" the upcoming challenge by a Cork taxi driver of the smoking ban claiming it has infringed his constitutional rights. Minister Martin said the matter "was in the hands of his legal team" and insisted that all of the legal avenues had been explored before the ban was implemented.

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