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Libertarian campaign group criticises generational smoking ban
The UK Government’s proposal to end tobacco sales for anyone born after 2008 has been criticised by libertarian campaigners, who argue it is impractical and infringes on personal freedoms. A recent poll commissioned by the Freedom Association found doubts about the policy’s workability, with concerns that it could push tobacco sales underground and place unreasonable enforcement burdens on shopkeepers. While two-thirds of respondents supported the policy in principle, a large share reportedly believed it would “cause a lot more trouble than it’s worth, cost the Government many millions of pounds in lost tax revenue and should be abandoned now.” Maxwell Marlow, of the tobacco industry-linked Adam Smith Institute criticised the ban as heavy handed and performative.
Editorial note: The Freedom Association is a libertarian campaign group that promotes free-market values. It has a history of campaigning against tobacco control measures and close links with Forest. The full results from the poll have not been published but the quotes from the article suggest that the survey used highly leading questions which may have impacted the results.
Findings from a recent ASH YouGov poll of over 11,000 adults showed that the majority of the public supports stronger restrictions on tobacco, including the government’s generational sales ban.
See also: Tobacco Tactics – The Freedom Association
Source: The Express, 5 July 2025
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TG Jones in legal dispute over returned unsold disposable vapes
TG Jones, the rebranded high street stores formerly known as WH Smith, is locked in a legal battle with vape supplier NPB Brands regarding the return of unsold disposable e-cigarettes. The disagreement concerns the terms of their contract after TG Jones sent back stock following the government ban on single-use vapes. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for next week.
Source: The Telegraph, 4 July 2025
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Letters to the Guardian highlight education and social factors are key to NHS prevention shift
The Guardian has published a series of letters responding to recent coverage of the NHS’s plan to shift from treatment to prevention. One letter highlights the traditional medical education system as a major barrier, which primarily trains students to focus on hospital-based cure rather than community-based prevention. Another emphasises that financial constraints hinder investment in preventive measures due to ongoing treatment demands. The correspondence also highlights longstanding health inequalities in poorer communities and calls for urgent, comprehensive public health strategies addressing social determinants like poverty, lifestyle factors, and early intervention to reduce health disparities and welfare costs.
Source: The Guardian, 4 July 2025
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Penny Dash interview: NHS chair pledges overhaul to tackle waste and health inequality
In an interview with The Times, Dr Penny Dash, newly appointed chair of NHS England, outlined her ambitions to overhaul the health service, criticising inefficiencies and highlighting deep inequalities in patient care. She points to stark regional variation in treatment quality, calls for greater transparency in NHS performance data, and describes inefficiencies across the system - from underused buildings and medical scanners to inefficiencies in patient management. While acknowledging the scale of the challenge, Dash indicates support for the direction of reform, particularly efforts to shift care out of hospitals and into the community.
Source: The Times, 6 July 2025
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Greece passes new bill targeting underage smoking and alcohol use
The Greek parliament has approved a bill aimed at limiting children's exposure to tobacco and alcohol. It introduces penalties for selling these products to minors, including fines and possible prison terms, and places new responsibilities on business owners to verify age and restrict minors’ access to bars and entertainment venues. Smoking is also prohibited in areas used by young people, such as internet cafés and sports grounds, as well as in taxis and public transport. The bill further limits tobacco advertising near schools and health facilities, and bans the display of tobacco products in shop windows.
Source: Euronews, 4 July 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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