The results have been predictable. In fact, whether it’s Eastern Europe or any other region of the world, we pretty much know the course tobacco will run from start to finish, based on the epidemic experiences of the US and UK.

First men, or rather boys, and then women, or rather girls, take up smoking (solid lines). Later, the deaths from smoking begin to appear, first in men, and then in women (striped lines). This continues for several decades after smoking prevalence begins to fall. The entire process takes approximately 100 years. Nearly all countries can find themselves at some stage on this continuum.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls…

Who’s at fault?