Tripling tobacco taxes ‘could prevent 200m early deaths’

Tripling tobacco taxes around the world could cut smoking by a third and prevent 200m premature deaths by the end of this century, researchers claim.

The tax boost would encourage people to quit smoking rather than switch from more expensive to cheaper brands, and help to stop young people taking up the habit, say the scientists.

They came to the conclusion after conducting a systematic review of 63 studies on the causes and consequences of tobacco use in different countries.