If smoking were invented today, it would end up being banned as it is "incredibly dangerous", it has been claimed.
According to the chief executive of anti-smoking charity An Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Deborah Arnott, because smoking has been around for such a long time - and as a result is seen as a common activity - it could not be "banned overnight".
She said that while putting more tax on tobacco could help some people to find the incentive to quit, others might need for assistance.
Her comments followed a report from the group, produced by an independent economist, which suggested that should the government up tobacco prices by five per cent above inflation, some 190,000 people could stop smoking.
Smoking while pregnant is not advisable and those planning to have a baby may want to take steps towards stopping before they fall pregnant as it is often a long process.
