Smoking rates have been slowly falling in Western countries for decades. Soon, the habit could be wiped out, without even having to ban it.

Most of us in the West are an unhealthy lot: we eat junk food, drink too much alcohol, exercise too little and generally ignore medical advice designed to help us live longer.

But there is one thing we are listening to our doctors about. Smoking rates have been slowly falling, year on year, in most Western countries for decades.

This month saw the 10-year anniversary of England's ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces - including bars and restaurants - a change that once would have seemed inconceivable.


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