The Public Health Cost of Ignoring the Dangers of Smoking: The Urgent Need for Action

The evidence is clear – smoking is a major public health issue that requires action. Despite efforts by tobacco companies to hide the truth, no one with scientific credibility has disputed Doll’s findings. The link between smoking and cancer was established as far back as 1950 by Oxford epidemiologist Richard Doll, who promptly quit smoking himself. Statistics show that two out of three people who continue to smoke will die prematurely, and smoking is responsible for nine out of 10 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The financial burden on an already strained National Health Service due to smoking-related illnesses amounts to billions of pounds annually. In arguments regarding the merits of restricting smoking, libertarians are on the losing side. The “nanny state” is backed by science, common sense, and public opinion. Compulsory seat belts in cars and helmets for motorcyclists were also once opposed by a vocal libertarian minority, but now few argue against these safety measures. Big Tobacco is facing the facts – in the UK alone, an estimated 76,000 deaths each year are caused by smoking.