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AS IF WE needed to be told, global figures show Irish people really love chocolate.
So much so that an average person eats 16.3 pounds of it every year. 16.3 pounds.
That’s the same weight in chocolate as the brain of a sperm whale or two human newborns – or 16 guinea pigs.
As the chart below shows, we are among the biggest chocolate consumers in the world, surpassed only by the Swiss – the chocolate masters – and the Germans.
Our neighbours in the United Kingdom are on par with us, also consuming an average of 16.3 pounds of chocolate per person each year.
Anyone going to the shop?
Lets be honest Michéal would be impressed by a fly landing on Sh it. He’s not a very imaginative man
@Roy Dowling: Not exactly an imaginative comment either.
@Roy Dowling: I’m no fan of him or his party. But he was minister for health when we were the first country to ban smoking in the workplace. So he does have a legitimate interest in how things are progressing to try and ban smoking altogether.
@Roy Dowling: Thats some funny sh it
@Paul Linehan: The big difference is that law was passed to protect second hand smoke affecting others in the workplace.
@Paul Linehan: I’m no fan of his either, and if he is that worried about the nation’s health, I’d suggest he get to work in sorting out our not fit for purpose health services, that his party and FG have let fall into disrepair for decades.
@Chasler: And this will hopefully protect against addiction in the future. Those who smoke today won’t be affected by the law. I’m an ex smoker who benefited from the ban in 2004, but still crave them most days. The addiction never goes away, so prevention is definitely better than cure.
@Gordon Larney: Very true, but he’s entitled to his opinion.
@Paul Linehan: Just not to smoke.
@Roy Dowling: “Michéal” ?
Even I know how to spell the bloke’s name correctly lol -> Micheál
@Paul Linehan: Yes……He also set up the HSE didn’t he? And we all are suffering as a consequence of that.
The smoking ban is about the only thing he’s ever succeeded at.
He’s the worst Taoiseach we’ve ever had. He is also the worst Leader Fianna Fail has ever had. And if they don’t topple him soon FF will go the way of Labour, PDs and the Greens. They’ll end up being nothing more than the filler in the sandwich. And if FF wait till the end of 2022 then they’ll deserve to be wiped out.
Freedom of choice is still legal in this country
@John O Mahony: Of course it is. I think it would be better to bring in legislation that if you smoke you are automatically giving up the right to be treated for the related illness that it will cause. How’s that for choice?
@Billy O’Brien: The enormous tax revenue from tobacco effectively subsidises part of the health service so smokers have already paid for a service that is free to everyone else. Cynics would also point out that smokers die younger thus saving the state a huge amount of money in pensions.
@John O Mahony: Just about!!
@Billy O’Brien: in that instance, same would be for drinking, drug addiction, junk food. Anything that could cause you potential health problems. Where do you draw the line?
@Billy O’Brien: How far should that be pushed. I’d imagine most are in hospital because of personal choices. No overweight, no person who drinks alcohol.
Let’s ban pubs and chipper’s too?
@Peter Baker: Now you’re talking!! Do you want to meet up so we can discuss this further?…. Socially distanced of course.
@Mark Howard: I wouldn’t just look at the
Monetary cost of smokers on the health
system. You have to look at hospital beds occupied and healthcare workers time.
@Billy O’Brien: I want legislation brought in that states iif you drink alcohol and you hurt yourself you automatically give up your right to be treated in hospital…. How’s that for a choice?
@Mark Howard: absolute nonsense. We wouldn’t need half the health system if we got rid of tobacco and alcohol.
@John O Mahony: the choice is for the big tobacco industry to keep addicting people for profit while contributing to the rise of lung cancer. They will keep addicting generation after generation until the chain is broken. This won’t affect current smokers. Most smokers wouldn’t let their kids near cigarettes.
@Billy O’Brien: preferably meet over a few pints and smokes and a chipper on the way home.
@Billy O’Brien: You are a A hole of the highest order.
@Mark Howard: completely false
@Josepi: Wow, I never thought of it that way. You are obviously much more intelligent than me.
@Billy O’Brien: great idea! Can we bring in a law with that whereby if a cyclist breaks a red light they won’t be treated in a&E as they are automatically giving up that right? Or people whom use mobile phones while driving giving up their right automatically to be treated in A&E in an accident????
@Roy Dowling: Or how about if you play dangerous sports and get injured that you are not entitled to treatment. Basically we should all sit at home, not drink, smoke, or take part in any kind of dangerous pursuits.
@Billy O’Brien: hope you’ve checked the sugar and sodium content in what you’ve eaten today, buddy, cos that’s where our public health system struggles. Smokers are an easy target.
Of course he is impressed. It’s all about the state having greater control over people’s individual freedoms. Nothing he likes better!
When they see how much would be lost to the Exchequer in tax they won’t be so brave to bring it in here.
@a: we would spend a lot less on treatment for illness related to smoking (heart disease, cancer etc) the books would balance over time, better all round for everyone
@Larry O Reilly: Well we may do, but it will take years for that to come to fruition. A quantum amount per annum can be put on the current tax take.
@Larry O Reilly: You obviously don’t know how much a packet of cigarettes cost these days and the huge percentage that goes to the exchequer. Whatever about anyone’s views around the habit, smokers are more than contributing to any treatment they may or may not need further on down the road.
@Larry O Reilly: everyone is going to die of something at some stage and healthcare will be required in the majority of instances.
Additionally with reduced levels of smoking, people will live longer into their pension years and cost the state a greater amount.
@a: Tax raised by smokers is around 1.1 billion per annum, costs incurred to the economy due to smoking is around 1.6 billion per annum. What would we lose?
@Fakë Ăvatăř: more tax would be paid by working people, because I’d say they pay a majority of the social welfare out of that.
@Fakë Ăvatăř: Be interesting to see a breakdown of those figures and how ‘costs to the economy’ as a direct result of smoking is measured.
Effectively you’re saying that if everyone in the country quit tomorrow, the taxpayer would get a billion plus per annum tax break?
While I don’t exactly agree with smoking, I don’t think there’s a need to ‘ban cigerettes’ last time I checked we lived in a free society. Where, as adults, we are allowed to make our own choices. I think the government might be forgetting that they were voted for and are in their positions, by the people, and some of those people might actually like to have a smoke. Slowly but surely the government’s of the world are eroding our rights, and removing the peoples ability of free thinking and making their own life choices. Next they’ll be banning chippers and fast food outlets in the name of ‘public health’, there is already a European law directing what colour your chips can be!
@Tim Adams: we are banned from many choices. I am not free to take crack cocaine. Quite happy to phase out tobacco.
@Cathal Murphy: That’s working well..
https://www.thejournal.ie/crack-cocaine-report-dublin-5595195-Nov2021/?amp=1
@Tim Adams: not if ur a child at 12/13. That’s isn’t an adult decision.thats trying to look cool. I’m talking from experience. I’m 40 now only of them 5days. My 18year old came in with a vap. I’m not a happy mammy. I truly believe don’t give the next generation the choice like we all had. I have a 6 year old and no… I honestly believe get rid, don’t give them the choice. They will be better for it
Freedom of choice
@John O Mahony: yes. Those poor tobacco companies want the freedom to addict future generations. Cancer for all!
@John O Mahony: don’t think u can make up ur mind at 12 or 13?
Maybe he could walk the Kiwis through his foundation of the HSE and how its possible to bake disfunction into every level of a health service…
Yes. Banning substances has been incredibly successful in the past so we should ban more and see how that goes. Jesus wept.
@Declan Doherty: banning leaded petrol, asbestos,CFC in aerosol,worked out pretty good. Indeed, jesus weeps for you.
@Fakë Ăvatăř: I think you may have missed the point by some margin. Those substances have indeed been banned but there’s no market for leaded petrol, CFC’s or asbestos because they won’t get you high. Well the petrol might but it’s unpredictable and unpleasant. This should have been clear from the comments but we’re talking about recreational drugs which have a huge global market. If you ban something where there’s demand you will fail.
Playing right into the hands of smugglers there
Prohibition doesn’t work. Either for alcohol, smoking or any other drugs.
Increase tax on fuel to make up revenue shortfall , The Green Machine will be delighted
Look at me, I introduced the smoking ban years ago, aren’t I great.
So are they going to ban everything that’s unhealthy for us, or just pick on smokers ban cigarettes and smoke hash instead
@John O Mahony: It’s not just that, if you’re eating a rasher in the kitchen, it’s not affecting your wife’s health. And rasher aren’t addictive.
Shouldn’t necessarily be an outright ban but make it well into adult age. (when people will have too much sense to bother with ‘em)
@Watchful Axe: Rashers not addictive? What you on about?
@John O Mahony: smoking is poison, Anything that can prevent people from taking it up should be welcome.
Freedom of choice shouldn’t mean taking toxic substances.
@Neil Feirtèir: yes it should.. Some people get stress relief from cigarettes, it helps them thru their day, even if theyre addicted, that’s their choice.. What right does the government have to determine what a person can do with their own body. Long as youre not hurting anybody else.. And i think the rules are swaying that way at present. I don’t smoke. Spent years trying to get off them, thank jaysis I did, but if someone wants to Smoke, let them… I’m talking about adults btw.. Not children.. You’ve prob got a few beers in the fridge maybe a bottle of vino? Power to you.. Enjoy it..
@Togs: That’s the point though, This new law won’t prevent current smokers. It will stop children taking up the habit.
There’s lots you can do to combat stress without the need to take a toxic substance.
When you say it doesn’t hurt anyone well I’d suggest talking to families that have buried loved ones from lung cancer.
@Togs: Alcohol and Cigarettes are very different.
You can drink in moderation and not develop cancer however you are far more likely to with smoking.
@Neil Feirtèir: I’m sorry if you lost Some body.. But people still deserve to have a choice of what they want to do to their own body.. You could draw parallels to your argument regarding families suffering after a loved one passes away with many things that are dangerous or a risk to a persons health.. If you dont like it that’s your choice.. I hate it them.. I really do.. But people deserve a choice..
A side issue is as long as there is a demand for something there will be people willing to supply it no matter what the legislation is..
Adults should be allowed do what they please to their own body’s.
@Neil Feirtèir: alcohol causes a huge amount of issues that cigarettes don’t. overall alcohol is probably more of a scourge on our society. Domestic violence, mental health problems. thats without going into the many alcohol addicts out there. I dont want that band either.. According to you alcohol is acceptable because it’s the toxic substance that you chose to ingest? So let’s not make that illegall? I’ll throw it back at you regarding people who have lost a loved one to cancer caused by cigarettes. Think of the victims of domestic violence who are living everyday in fear due to alcohol?.. Then take a look at your first comment re toxic substances and then your last comment. Again I hate cigarettes,.. But adults deserve the right to have a choice in what they do to themselves.
@Neil Feirtèir: “freedom of choice shouldn’t mean taking toxic substances”.. Cept you and your cool frosty peronis and my wife’s bottle of pinot gritio.. LOL.. Man that’s so hypocritical although i completely understand why you hate cigarettes.
@Togs: I’ve seen the impact of both and both are awful. The point I’m making is you can’t compare the two because smoking is far more addictive and also far more likely to kill you.
Both have a huge impact on our health system.
This law relates to Children I can’t understand how anyone could object to trying eradicate something that kills people I honestly can’t see any reason.
@Neil Feirtèir: omg. Youre not getting it man.. Alcohol kills.. Thats a fact.. It destroys lives, maybe not yours.. But it does.. Respect people’s right to choose what they want to do like I’m respecting yours.. Let’s do the same for alcohol.. Should we start banning alcohol cuz that kills loadsa people?
@Togs: Your not getting this though, The law in NZ is targeting kids smoking.
What is your objection to that?
@Neil Feirtèir: absolutely nothing, that’s great .. You said “freedom of choice shouldn’t mean taking toxic substances”.. What you shud have said was “freedom of choice does not mean taking of toxic substances as long as I am allowed to consume the toxic substance that I deem ok”.. Admit when you’re wrong Man..
look im up for you having your weekend drink.. Just like in up for people having their smoke when they want.. Imagine the government said you weren’t allowed to have a drink at the weekend.. You wudnt be long telling them to FO.
@Togs: Should the same argument apply to injecting heroin, or sniffing cocaine? Should we get rid of the whole medical prescription idea, since if people want to put something into their own body, they should be free to do so?
@Togs: you keep avoiding my point,
This law is to eradicate smoking from Children and eventually the population over time.
The amount of lives that will be saved yet you are arguing against that which I find hard to fathom.
Using a whataboutry argument about alcohol makes no difference to this argument.
I’m not going to point out the difference between the two as I’d expect a reasonable person to understand that.
@Neil Feirtèir: youre unreal.. Are you taking the mickey? You’re only ok with this law cuz it doesn’t affect your choice of dangerous intoxicants. what about the children that might choose to drink alcohol? are they not worth saving from that toxic substance..? How can you be Against that? Omg Neil.. Omg.. Heavens above,… In simple term’s… You’re saying Cigarettes bad.. Alcohol grand.. cuz I it’s what I like..
Again for the record.. I’m up for adults having choice of what they consume. you like a weekend drink good for you. enjoy it I respect that that is your call… Holy for jervis centre.. I’m exhausted after you.. night man. You’ve nearly pushed me back to the smokes..
@Togs: Please quote where I said I was ok with Alcohol? Don’t make assumptions.
You are the one using whataboutry to defend smoking.
I’m happy I know where I stand, eradicating smoking is for the betterment of this country.
You are on the wrong side of this debate when you are defending tobacco.
Unsure what to make of this whole thing. Seems to make sense on a surface level, and as an on/off smoker myself i wouldn’t recommend them to anyone, and they are for sure hard to quit. However banning things usually just drives it underground and creates a black market for it. Things like the war on drugs hasn’t exactly been successful. Addiction is addiction. Maybe things like alan carrs easyway method should be recommended more, rather then outright banning things.
This can only mean one thing..
More tax on tobacco incoming..
Then alcohol, followed by excess salt, then not getting your 8 hours of sleep. Slippery slope.
Great idea should be all banned.
Imagine years from now.. Going to the corner shop in your 50s and being asked for ID to by cigarettes
@The Divils Avocado: you would probably look older than you actually are due to smoking and you would definitely take it as a compliment
As an older smoker who can’t give them up, I’d be ok with this if it helps prevent people from starting the habit. But can they please hurry up and legalise cannabis, I hope someday I can legaly buy some weed/hash and enjoy it without being made feel like a criminal. Also think of the tax revenue it would create to help balance the loss from reduced ciggarette smokers.
If the government is serious about reducing cigarette smoking they should stop their ridiculous campaign against vaping.
Why do we always applaud and copy idi0tic or draconian ideas from elsewhere? Small country complex perhaps?
People might forget but it was MM as minister of health who banned smoking instead public places like pubs so it does have some relevance to him
That’ll be an interesting dynamic in a few years. A load of 45 year olds hanging out around Spar, sheepishly asking the 50 year olds if they could go in and buy them smokes
Not just a good idea a genius idea.
Martin no balls would never do such a thing
@Alan Campbell: Not like he has a history of actually banning something smoking related….. He’s all talk of course.
“cohort” 2021′s word d’jour…
Well do the same then or are you liking the taxes more than health
A true leader.
have your say