Richard Peto is one of the world’s leading experts on why smokers die prematurely. He is also one of the most outspoken critics of tobacco companies. He thinks all tobacco advertising should be banned. And he believes campaigns aimed at preventing children from starting smoking are misplaced-we should be helping adults to stop. Fred Pearce meets the Oxford statistician trying to save lives.
Life is full of risks. What’s so special about tobacco?
It’s the magnitude of the hazard. Half of all cigarette smokers are eventually killed by tobacco unless they stop. Worldwide, there are only two major causes of death that are clearly getting bigger:…
