If smoking tobacco was invented today, there is little doubt it would be made illegal. The harm it does is simply too great.
It is still the biggest cause of preventable illness and death in England, with an annual cost to society of around £17 billion. Persuading 6 million smokers to quit is not an easy task, but a new independent review commissioned by the government has come up with some sensible recommendations, as well as crucially highlighting that smoking is a key driver of inequality, and far more common among the poorest in society.
