A commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says that although global efforts to reduce tobacco use have had some success, more can be done to reduce smoking-related deaths.

To meet the WHO’s recommended 30% reduction in smoking by 2025, countries need to triple tobacco taxes. If this reduction is achieved, it would save an estimated 200 million lives by the end of the 21st century.

“The only plausible way to reduce smoking to this extent would be to triple tobacco excise taxes in most low- and middle-income countries,” the authors wrote. “Estimates suggest that tripling excise tax would double the retail price of tobacco products and reduce consumption by about 40% in these nations.”

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