SMOKING TO KILL 8 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR BY 2030 - WHO
THE number of people who die from smoking is going to rise considerably in the coming years, according to a new report released last month .
Tobacco use currently kills an estimated six million people worldwide every year but by 2030, the World Health Organisation (WHO) believes this will increase to eight million. The study also suggests that the global economy is losing at least $1tn (£820bn) a year because of the impact smoking has on productivity levels and health services.
More than 80% of smoking deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, where the number of smokers is continuing to rise. The WHO claims most governments are failing to use cheap and effective tools which can reduce tobacco use and save lives, such as complete bans on tobacco marketing, prominent warning labels on cigarette packets and price increases.
Global revenues generated from tobacco taxes only stood at $269bn (£221bn) in 2013/14, it said, which is nowhere near enough to recoup the economic losses caused by smoking.
Health Experts say tobacco use is the single biggest preventable cause of death worldwide.
The WHO's report, produced in conjunction with the US National Cancer Institute, said: "Government fears that tobacco control will have an adverse economic impact are not justified by the evidence.

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