This dramatic headline in The Independent in 1997 does, of course, apply to the whole world, not just Britain.

Richard Peto, Professor of Medical Statistics at Oxford University, was quoted as saying that over the next 20 years there will be about 100 million deaths from smoking UNLESS ADULT SMOKERS STOP.

Is there new hope? Last night's Evening Standard had a report by Dr. Mark Porter:

"Next year's ban on smoking in public places, due to come into force on July 1st, means there has never been a better time for the 12 million smokers in the UK to quit."

A new drug, Champix (varenicline)was launched in the UK yesterday. It works by interfering with the action of nicotine on the reward centre of the brain. The manufacturers, Pfizer, claim it is significantly more effective as a stop-smoking treatment than the rival drug Zyban. It should now be available on prescription, although the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)are only likely to look at the drug sometime next year.

By the way, the World Health Organisation have recently produced a similar estimate of deaths for the year 2025 to the one quoted in my headline in 1997.

I spent 6 months on a chest ward in the 1960s. I had TB and fully recovered, but I saw the terrible effects of smoking in some of my fellow patients. That's partly why I think we should continue to campaign on at least two other points:

* from 2006 until 2010 there will be a phasing out of European subsidies to tobacco growers, and yet after 2010 tobacco growers will NOT be disqualified from subsidies. This is a clear contradiction of the EU treaty's obligation to ensure that ALL policies contribute to human health (source: european public health alliance)

* about three years ago, I tried to stop the Oxfordshire County Council Pension Fund investing in cigarette companies. I failed. Will anyone try again?

Since it is suggested that about 75% of smokers want to give up, here is what to do if you are still a smoker:

ring 0800 00 22 00 or visit www.quit.org.uk for free confidential advice.