Smoking ban 'will save 500,000 lives a year' in England

At least half a million deaths a year are likely to be prevented by England’s smoking ban, one of the world’s leading experts on the deadly effects of tobacco said today.

Professor Richard Peto made the forecast based on the experience of Ireland, which introduced a similar ban in March 2004. Cigarette sales have fallen by around 17% since the ban took effect in Ireland.