Tobacco was introduced into the UK in the late 16th century and its popularity has risen ever since then. However, shortly afterwards, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, King James I of England was the first monarch to implement a tax on tobacco use. He also published his famous ‘Counterblast to tobacco’ in 1604 where he reflected on his dislike of the ‘precious stink’ and observed that: Smoking is a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.Despite the noble and early attempts to practice primitive public health medicine, cigarette smoking for centuries has been one of the most prevalent, addictive and harmful pastimes throughout many countries of the world. Cigarette smoking delivers nicotine—a powerfully addictive drug—quickly and in high doses directly to the brain; addiction is …