There's an election in Ireland this month and all the leading parties seem intent on targeting smokers if they get into office.
Fine Gael, for example, will increase excise duty on tobacco by 45 cent. They plan to raise €349 million from increasing excise on cigarettes and nicotine products over five years.
Fianna Fail plan to increase excise duty on cigarettes by 90 cents over 5 years. They estimate that this will raise an extra €108m for the Exchequer.
Although it's not mentioned in their manifesto, Sinn Fein have called for the introduction of an annual tobacco tax escalator. (Sound familiar?)
Like Fine Gael, Labour also want to increase excise duty on cigarettes by 45 cent. They anticipate this will raise an additional €260 million for the Exchequer over five years.
Meanwhile the Social Democrats will launch "evidence-based" health campaigns to reduce the cost to the health service of smoking (and other things).
In response Forest Eireann is launching its own manifesto.
As I write, our spokesman John Mallon is in central Dublin where he is about to unveil a trailer bearing the message:
ONE IN FIVE VOTERS SMOKE.
I hope to have some photos to post here later.
Update: As one of its five top stories this morning Newstalk (Ireland's national independent talk radio station) reports:
Smokers' group Forest Ireland has called for a cut in taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The group says Fine Gael and Labour's proposals will mean Ireland's smokers will end up paying an extra €1,500 in tax.
They are claiming smokers are being punished for a habit they enjoy.
The same report has appeared in the Irish Examiner (Smokers group wants cut in cigarette tax) and other media outlets.
Smokers group wants cut in cigarette tax https://t.co/uJ5aTdantD pic.twitter.com/KnwNFhZV0K
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 16, 2016