It is known with great certainty, for example, that smoking can cause lung disease and can contribute to other chronic illnesses. The impacts of tobacco smoking on the national health system, on public well-being and on the quality of life of many individuals have been subjected to intense scientific and social scrutiny over several decades.

What is also well known is that tobacco is addictive, an attribute that works greatly in favour of the product's makers and marketers.

It is a matter of public knowledge that smoking rates have declined in many Western countries following a string of negative court cases illustrating unsavoury and sometimes dishonest behaviour on the part of tobacco companies and following concerted efforts by health authorities to counter tobacco marketing.

Interestingly, smoking rates in many less-developed countries have risen at the same time, as tobacco firms have pushed into these less-regulated markets.

Rates have also begun to rise again in some sections of the Australian population - notably among younger women - for reasons that are not yet entirely clear.

It may be argued that one factor is availability. Despite ostensible disapproval by Australian governments, cigarettes are sold in a myriad outlets.

A new study by the Cancer Council's behavioural research centre in Newcastle has noted the existence in the Hunter of more than 1200 sales outlets - the equivalent of one for every 77 smokers - suggesting that this easy availability is a major factor preventing addicted smokers from quitting.

It is a fact that tobacco companies remain significant donors to political parties and it is also a fact that the federal government recently failed to accept recommendations in favour of limitations on tobacco marketing.

And while governments assert they are doing their bit to cut smoking rates by cranking up cigarette taxes, this may be just another form of addiction - to tobacco tax revenue rather than to smoking itself.