Letter: Smoking Kate is not a model to follow

Mr Henry Paul
Sunday 10 October 1993 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: While I support the calls by Robert Haward and others for a ban on tobacco advertising and an increase in taxes on cigarettes (Letters, 7 October), I am disappointed to see yet again false claims on the effects of smoking being used to support these proposals by people who should know better.

Dr Haward asserts that 'it is estimated that 111,000 people die every year in the UK as a result of smoking tobacco'. This estimate (elsewhere quoted at 100,000 and 110,000) actually relates to deaths from smoking-related diseases. In other words, from diseases that can also be caused by factors other than smoking. Further, it has yet to be proven epidemiologically that smoking actually causes lung cancer. So far, all we have is statistical evidence showing that smokers are many times more likely to die from the disease than are non- smokers. Although I personally am prepared to accept this evidence, I know of many smokers who await more convincing evidence before trying to give up the weed.

By the way, is the rate of smoking among doctors still higher than the national average rate?

Yours faithfully

HENRY PAUL

Hampden Park, East Sussex

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in