The financial burden on an already strained National Health Service due to smoking-related illnesses is staggering. In the UK alone, an estimated 76,000 deaths each year are caused by smoking, a statistic that has been well established for decades. The link between smoking and cancer was first established in 1950 by Oxford epidemiologist Richard Doll, who promptly quit smoking himself. Despite efforts by tobacco companies to hide the truth, no one with scientific credibility has disputed Doll’s findings.
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. This makes it clear that smoking is a major public health issue that requires action. While libertarians may argue against restrictions on individual freedom, the evidence is clear – science, common sense, and public opinion all support the need for intervention to protect public health.
Compulsory seat belts in cars and helmets for motorcyclists were once opposed by a vocal libertarian minority, but now few argue against these safety measures. Big Tobacco is facing the facts – they can no longer deny the harmful effects of their products on public health and must take responsibility for their actions.