Anyone who tells you that quitting is an easy option has obviously never been a smoker. Help is at hand, however, with a new product joining the serried ranks of patches, gums and New Age quackery. The eCigarette looks (vaguely) like the real thing, even down to producing a smoke-like vapour when you draw on it – but it only delivers nicotine, without all the nasty chemicals that tobacco includes as part of the deal. Only time will tell how effective (or indeed popular) it will become. But hey, while our governments are busily banning things that are bad for our lungs, perhaps it’s time for them to admit that depleted uranium causes cancer?