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Smoking ban reinstated across Birmingham and Solihull mental health sites
A total ban on smoking has been reinstated at all sites run by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, ending previous allowances in some outdoor areas. Patients will no longer be offered smoke breaks, and smoking will not be permitted on wards, grounds or entrances.
To support those affected, nicotine replacement therapy will be available within half an hour of admission, with nurses able to dispense short-term supplies. The trust’s Tobacco Dependency team will also provide guidance on quitting, including advice on vaping, group sessions and emotional support.
Source: Express & Star, 3 September 2025
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NHS Greater Glasgow issues new guidance on vaping
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has released a new information pack highlighting the risks of vaping and providing guidance on quitting. The resource, developed with input from both young users and professionals, offers advice on strategies to reduce use, and support for quitting.
This comes amongst concern that vaping rates among 16 to 24-year-olds in Scotland have risen, with nearly a quarter now using e-cigarettes. The pack includes age-appropriate videos, practical tools, and links to further help, forming part of wider efforts to cut nicotine dependence and improve public health.
Source: Glasgow Times, 2 September 2025
Editorial note: According to the Scottish Health Survey, 22% of 16-24 year olds were currently vaping in 2023. Results for Scotland from the ASH Smokefree GB survey show that in 2024, 7.4% of those aged 11-17 identified as current vapers (4.6% regular vapers – vaping more than once a week – and 2.8% occasional vapers). 18.8% said they had tried vaping and 10% had only tried a vape once or twice. For more detail on the Scottish data see Vaping and smoking among Scottish adolescents. For GB data see the ASH factsheet Use of vapes (e-cigarettes) among young people in Great Britain.
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Government to ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s
Ministers have confirmed that under-16s in England will no longer be able to buy energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, with products such as Red Bull and Monster among those affected. The move aims to address concerns over childhood obesity, poor concentration, sleep disruption and dental damage, and delivers on a Labour manifesto pledge.
The restriction will apply across shops, cafes, restaurants, vending machines and online sales. Teaching unions and health bodies welcomed the measure, citing evidence of classroom disruption and long-term health risks linked to the drinks.
Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance called the ban “a common sense, evidence-based step to protect children’s physical, mental and dental health”, adding that age-of-sale restrictions have a proven record of success. Dentists have urged ministers to go further by including low- and no-sugar versions.
Source: The Guardian, 2 September 2025
Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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Reeves sets November 26 date for budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her second budget on 26 November, alongside updated forecasts from the UK’s fiscal watchdog. The timing allows forecasters to take account of new trade deals and planning reforms. Reeves is expected to focus on boosting productivity, with further planning changes under consideration. The Treasury is reportedly also exploring smaller revenue measures, including a proposed gambling levy.
Source: Politico, 3 September 2025
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Starmer reshapes priorities by axing mission delivery unit
Keir Starmer has disbanded the Cabinet Office team that was responsible for driving his government’s headline missions, shifting its staff into a new unit run directly from Downing Street under Darren Jones, his new chief secretary. The change signals a further narrowing of focus, with the government now centring on boosting living standards, improving the health service, and strengthening border and community security.
The prime minister has shifted repeatedly between different frameworks for his agenda, sparking criticism of inconsistency, though No 10 insists the original missions remain intact. Jones is expected to rely heavily on data-led tracking of progress, though concerns have been raised over the unit’s reliance on junior officials and the exclusion of senior civil servants from policy development. Supporters argue Jones’s closeness to Starmer gives him authority across government, though questions remain over clarity in the chain of command.
Source: The Times, 2 September 2025
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Fathers’ childhood exposure to second-hand smoke linked to poorer lung health in children
Research has suggested that men who were exposed to second-hand smoke when they were young may pass on reduced lung function to their children, raising their risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) later in life. The study, based on data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, found that children of such fathers were more likely to show below-average lung performance and early signs of decline, particularly if they themselves had also been exposed to passive smoke.
Although the findings are observational and cannot confirm direct causation, researchers believe that exposure before puberty may alter biological mechanisms in ways that can be inherited. The results underscore the wider generational harms of smoking and highlight the need for parents to avoid exposing children to tobacco smoke.
Source: Medical Xpress, 3 September 2025
See also: Paternal prepubertal passive smoke exposure is related to impaired lung function trajectories from childhood to middle age in their offspring
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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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