EU Top Official Supports Irish Smoke Ban [08/04-1]
Excerpts from: EU Commissioner Backs Irish Smoking Ban
Health
-Reuters [08/04/03]
Irish plans to stamp out smoking in public places were backed on Monday by the
European Union's top health official, who also accused the tobacco industry
of aiming products at youth.
The ban, proposed by Irish Health Minister Micheal Martin, would take effect
from early 2004 despite fears from the bar and restaurant industry that profits
will be hit.
believe the tobacco industry is manipulating and misleading people and targeting
young people and adolescents because they realize that if they get them young,
they're hooked," he told a news conference at the 12th World Conference on
Tobacco or Health in the Finnish capital.
"I don't meet the industry any more... It is a pointless exercise because
we have different aims in mind. I want to close them down, they want to make
profits," he added.
Byrne said the commission was also considering a minimum tax on cigarettes, but
the 15-member bloc lacked the power to harmonize prices. He also supported finding
alternative crops for Europe's tobacco growers as part of phasing out current
subsidies.
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