Wakey wakey!

Just in case anyone is still in doubt, we really do have it on very good authority that alcohol and cigarettes kill more people than anything illegal you can name. The latest professional to issue the reminder was Dr Andrew Hartle, a Consultant Anaesthetist at Imperial College, on the Today Programme this morning, while discussing Michael Jackson's unfortunate and probably fatal addiction to the anaesthetic Propofol. Having moved on from the tragic singer to addictions generally, Evan Davies pressed the doctor for drugs people "should avoid". He sounded uncertain as he said it, but was clearly even less sure of himself - even disappointed - when he heard Hartle's answer.

"More people are harmed by alcohol and nicotine than all the other drugs," said the doc quietly. The glimmerings of a laugh you could hear in his voice were presumably the result of having to state the blindingly obvious. Parents and teachers take note: yes, that is alcohol and nicotine, and coincidentally, they do both bring in billions to the Treasury.