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Government launches campaign to educate children about vaping
A new government campaign, Love Your Lungs, aims to educate young people about vaping and nicotine addiction. The campaign, which will be promoted on YouTube and Instagram by influencers such as Big Manny and Bodalia, is the first of its kind in England. A video features a woman in a toxic relationship, later revealed to symbolise dependence on vaping.
While vaping is recommended as a tool to help smokers quit, health experts warn that young people who have never smoked should avoid it. To better understand the long-term effects, the government has also commissioned a decade-long study tracking 100,000 young people aged eight to 18. This research will monitor health, wellbeing, and behavioural data, contributing to a clearer understanding of vaping’s risks.
Officials hope that this research, alongside the public awareness campaign, will guide future policy decisions to protect children’s health. Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said that although vaping is known to be significantly less harmful than smoking, it is likely to have risks in the long term but that it is currently difficult to quantify those risks. Ms Cheeseman welcomed the research project, saying it will help address this knowledge gap.
Source: The Independent, 19 February 2025
See also: DHSC - 10-year study to shed light on youth vaping
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Radio 5 Live interview with ASH CE Hazel Cheeseman
Presenters Rick Edwards and Connie McLaughlin interview Chief Executive of ASH, Hazel Cheeseman, about the government’s newly announced research project into the long-term health effects of vaping on young people. Hazel welcomed the announcement and said that previous studies into the risks of vaping often fail to account for previous smoking which skews the results. She added that there is a need to study this particular age cohort as it will help to determine the absolute risk of exposure to nicotine in young people.
Source: BBC Radio 5 Live, 19 February 2025
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Key figures shaping the NHS strategy amid evolving leadership
As the government refines its NHS reform strategy, a core group of policymakers and advisers is emerging to shape a deliverable plan. Input has been gathered through public consultation and working groups, but as the publication date nears, decision-making is becoming more centralised.
Key figures include former health secretary Alan Milburn, NHS England chair Penny Dash, and strategist Tom Kibasi, alongside influential figures with consultancy backgrounds. While NHS England leaders remain involved, frontline NHS executives have limited representation, raising concerns about practical implementation.
The strategy has a political dimension, with figures from the centre-left think tank Institute for Public Policy Research playing a role, while general practice is gaining prominence. However, gaps remain in representation from non-medical clinicians, public health leaders, and diverse voices, which could impact the plan’s effectiveness.
Source: HSJ, 19 February 2025
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Public backs wider health conversations to improve wellbeing
A new report challenges the idea that Britons avoid discussing health, revealing strong public support for better training in workplaces, schools, and gyms to encourage conversations about wellbeing. The Royal Society for Public Health highlights a growing public health crisis, with rising obesity, chronic illness, and unhealthy behaviours contributing to declining healthy life expectancy.
The study recommends expanding the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative, which trains staff to engage in brief, informal discussions promoting healthier lifestyles in areas such as exercise, smoking, food, alcohol, the menopause and mental health. Survey results show widespread approval for training employers, teachers, gym staff, and community health workers in this approach.
With the NHS under pressure from rising demand, the report emphasises the need for early intervention and prevention. Encouraging small but impactful lifestyle changes through everyday conversations could play a vital role in improving public health and reducing strain on healthcare services.
Source: The Independent, 19 February 2025
See also: Royal Society of Public Health - New report calls for people to get talking about health issues
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Isle of Man: Public consultation launched on tighter tobacco and nicotine restrictions
A public consultation has been opened in the Isle of Man to gather opinions on proposed stricter regulations for tobacco and nicotine products, including a potential generational ban on the sale of tobacco products, mirroring the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the UK. The measures under consideration would prohibit sales to anyone born from 2008 onwards and expand controls to cover newer products such as heated tobacco and nicotine pouches.
The consultation, which runs until 26 March, seeks feedback on widening age and distribution restrictions, though smoking cessation aids would be exempt. The proposals align with similar legislative efforts in the UK.
Findings from the consultation will inform a committee’s recommendations to the House of Keys before any new laws are introduced. Supporters argue that legislative action has been a key driver in reducing smoking rates, and further measures could help phase it out altogether.
Source: BBC news, 19 February 2025
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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