Despite the adverse health effects of tobacco, developing nations hesitate to take measures against tobacco consumption for fear of economic repercussions. But instances in countries like the UK have shown that measures to control tobacco addiction goes a long way to reduce health risks -- without adversely affecting the economy. In fact, measures like increasing tobacco taxes have augmented government revenues. It's time developing nations paid heed to the danger posed by tobacco or the citizens may have to pay dearly: recent predictions state that by 2020, seven out of every 10 people who die of tobacco-induced diseases will be from the developing countries.
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