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JTI introduces lemon flavour cigarillo
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has unveiled a limited edition lemon-flavoured cigarillo, aiming to diversify its capsule range and appeal to evolving adult smoker preferences. The launch follows strong performance of lemon flavours in related nicotine categories, such as vapes, and is expected to expand growth in the cigarillo market, which saw significant gains in 2024. Retailers are being incentivised by the tobacco industry with promotional margins to stock the product.
Source: Scottish Grocer, 1 July 2025
Editorial note:
Although cigarillos closely resemble cigarettes, they are taxed at a much lower rate and are not subject to regulations such as requiring standardised packaging, minimum pack sizes or prohibition of characterising flavours.
The introduction of lemon capsules is another example of the tobacco industry taking advantage of weaker restrictions to undermine regulations designed to reduce smoking prevalence. This follows on from their introduction of mentholated cigarillos in 2020, used to bypass the menthol cigarette ban.
Over the last decade, non-cigarette tobacco use in England has risen sharply, with 5 times as many people exclusively smoking non-cigarette tobacco products (eg. cigar/pipe/shisha). As of September-2023, there were around 772,800 adult non-cigarette tobacco smokers in England; around five times more than a decade earlier. The rise in prevalence differed by age, with more pronounced increases among younger age groups.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give the government powers to regulate flavours in all tobacco products, including cigarillos. ASH has previously called on the Labour government to extend standardised packaging to cigarillos, closing down a clear avenue for marketing cigarette-like products. We have also urged the government to classify cigarillos as factory-made cigarettes to prevent manufacturers using these products to continue undermining tobacco policy.
See our response to the consultation on Standardised packaging for all tobacco products.
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Nicotine pouch firm FOIs cabby smoking fines in Birmingham
New figures, obtained through Freedom of Information requests and commissioned by nicotine pouch firm Alternix, reveal that nearly 50 taxi drivers in Birmingham were fined over the past year for smoking inside their licensed vehicles. According to Alternix, the data places Birmingham among the top three local authorities for issuing such fines. The findings form part of Alternix’s wider national research into smoking enforcement in public transport settings.
Source: Birmingham Live, 8 July 2025
Editorial note:
This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments. It functions as a promotional vehicle for the nicotine pouch manufacturer Alternix.
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Opinion: Dental professionals play a vital role in advancing a smokefree UK
Writing in the BDJ, Richard Holliday, Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry and a specialist in Periodontics at the School of Dental Sciences, argues that the UK needs to be bold as it stands at a crucial point in its effort to eliminate smoking.
Holliday cites data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) that highlights significant public support for tobacco control measures, including among current smokers, underscoring a mandate for change. Holliday highlights, however, that despite this, around six million people still smoke, highlighting the need for coordinated national policies combined with local healthcare support. Holliday argues dental professionals are uniquely positioned to aid smoking cessation efforts through ongoing patient relationships.
Holliday concludes that dental professionals should champion the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will help curb tobacco sales among younger generations and introduce tighter regulations on marketing, balancing harm reduction with youth protection. Holliday, urges his colleagues to support this transition by engaging in patient care and policy advocacy, contributing to the country’s goal of a healthier, smokefree population.
Source: British Dental Journal (Paywalled), 7 July 2025
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Public health must adapt to counter Big Tobacco’s evolving tactics
As tobacco companies continue to develop new products and strategies to maintain market share, public health efforts must evolve to stay ahead. Despite significant global progress in reducing smoking over the past two decades, recent trends show a slowing decline in tobacco use.
The industry is aggressively pushing alternatives like vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, often targeting younger audiences and exploiting regulatory loopholes. In response, health advocates are calling for stronger measures, such as limiting nicotine content, banning filters, taxing tobacco more heavily, and restricting access for future generations.
The World Health Organization’s new “3 by 35” initiative aims to reduce consumption through significant price increases, highlighting the need for bold, coordinated action to sustain progress and prevent a resurgence in tobacco-related harm.
Source: Health Policy Watch, 7 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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