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** 25 April 2025
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** UK
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** Risk factors show measurable health impact from mid-thirties, study finds (#1)
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** Big tobacco company gifts retailer Mini Cooper for promoting cigarettes (#2)
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** Philip Morris raises profit outlook as Zyn nicotine pouch sales increase (#3)
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** International
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** USA: Quit-smoking pill shown to significantly boost vaping cessation in young people (#4)
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** Bangladesh struggles to hit tobacco reduction targets amid mixed trends (#5)
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** Szczesny urges fans not to copy his smoking habit despite strong form at Barcelona (#6)
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** Links of the Week
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** ASH blog: Why Big Tobacco should pay for the cost of smoking (#7)
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** UK
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** Risk factors show measurable health impact from mid-thirties, study finds

A long-term Finnish study has found that the harmful effects of smoking, excessive alcohol use and lack of physical activity can begin to significantly impact both physical and mental health as early as age 36. Researchers followed over 300 participants for three decades, observing clear links between these factors and increased health risks, including higher rates of depression, poorer self-rated health, and elevated metabolic risk scores.

Smoking, in particular, emerged as a key driver of declining wellbeing, with its long-term presence contributing to marked deterioration across various health indicators. The research underscores the importance of enabling healthier lifestyles as early as possible, though positive changes later in life can still offer significant benefits.

Source: The Independent, 24 April 2025

See also: Tiia Kekäläinen, et al. Cumulative associations between health behaviours, mental well-being, and health over 30 years. ([link removed]) Annals of Medicine. 2025.
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** Big tobacco company gifts retailer Mini Cooper for promoting cigarettes

A retailer has won a Mini Cooper through a promotional competition run by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) to promote their lower cost cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. The promotional competition required retailers to scan product barcodes to earn prize draw entries. JTI gave out weekly rewards to incentivise retailers to take part, including gift cards and tech items.

Source: Talking Retail, 23 April 2025

See also: ASH - Briefing on the tobacco industry and their tactics ([link removed]) | Tobacco Tactics - Shaping retail: The Role of Incentives ([link removed])

Editorial note: This is article is an example of the underhand tactics ([link removed]) used by big tobacco to promote their products. Owing to strict regulation companies like JTI have transitioned their promotional expenditure towards business-to-business marketing activities with retailers. As Philip Morris International put it, retailers are seen as the “primary communication vehicle” and, as such, are often targeted with incentives to promote tobacco products.

This tactic subverts Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) ([link removed]) which requires parties to implement and enforce a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising.

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** Philip Morris raises profit outlook as Zyn nicotine pouch sales increase

Philip Morris International has upgraded its annual profit forecast following the first quarter of 2025, largely driven by increasing demand for its Zyn nicotine pouches. The company saw a 5.8% rise in revenue, with Zyn shipments in the U.S. growing by 53% year-on-year to 202 million cans. According to the article, Zyn's appeal among younger adults and professionals has helped solidify its position as a key part of the firm’s transition away from traditional tobacco products. Production is now being expanded to meet growing demand, with availability expected to increase by the third quarter of 2025.

Source: Fortune, 23 April 2025
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** International
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** USA: Quit-smoking pill shown to significantly boost vaping cessation in young people

A clinical trial has found that varenicline, a prescription drug used to help adults quit smoking, is also highly effective in helping young people aged 16 to 25 stop vaping. Researchers compared the drug to behavioural counselling and a text support service, finding that those who took varenicline were more than three times as likely to quit. The trial involved 261 participants and showed significantly higher quit rates for the varenicline group both at 12 and 24 weeks. The study highlights varenicline as a safe and effective option for addressing nicotine addiction in adolescents and young adults.

Source: Medical Xpress, 24 April 2025

See also: Evins A E, et al. Varenicline for Youth Nicotine Vaping Cessation A Randomized Clinical Trial. ([link removed]) Journal of the American Medical Association. 2025.
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** Bangladesh struggles to hit tobacco reduction targets amid mixed trends

Bangladesh is falling behind on its goal to reduce smoking by 40% by 2030, with only modest declines in tobacco use recorded between 2009 and 2022. While overall tobacco consumption has decreased slightly, cigarette use remains high and e-cigarette use is growing, particularly among younger populations. Concerns have been raised about the reliability of the data used in recent analyses, with some experts pointing to rising cigarette sales as evidence that smoking habits may not be declining as expected.

Source: Tobacco Reporter, 25 April 2025
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** Szczesny urges fans not to copy his smoking habit despite strong form at Barcelona

Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has openly acknowledged his ongoing struggle with smoking and warned young fans not to emulate him. Despite enjoying a successful spell with the club since returning from retirement, Szczesny admitted that his addiction to smoking remains a personal failure. While his performances have been key to Barcelona’s strong season across domestic and European competitions, he stressed that his openness about smoking should not be seen as endorsement. Instead, he emphasised the importance of making healthier choices.

Source: ESPN, 25 April 2025
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** Links of the Week
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** ASH blog: Why Big Tobacco should pay for the cost of smoking

In this guest blog, Head of Health at IPPR, Sebastian Rees, sets out why big tobacco should pay for the cost of smoking. Rees makes the case for a levy that would ease the burden caused by smoking, funding the interventions laid out in the APPG on Smoking and Health’s report, A roadmap to a Smokefree Country: No one starts, everyone stops, no profit in tobacco. ([link removed])

A levy on industry profits, as recommended by the APPG on Smoking and Health, offers:
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** Sustainable funding for prevention and quit support
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** Strong public support, with 77% of adults supporting a levy
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** Alignment with a health industrial strategy
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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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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