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Experts warn that exposing children to e-cigarettes compromises their human rights
Academics writing in The BMJ have warned that the use of e-cigarettes among young people endangers children’s health and violates their human rights. The authors argue that nicotine exposure can interfere with brain development, increasing risks of addiction, cognitive impairment and later substance misuse.
Despite legal obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 62 countries still have no e-cigarette regulations. The authors call for tighter global controls consistent with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. They argue that strong, child-centred regulation is essential to prevent health and social consequences.
Source: News-Medical, 12 November 2025
See also: BMJ - How e-cigarettes compromise children’s human rights | The Independent - Vaping could affect teenagers’ memory, mood and attention, study says | ASH – Youth Vaping
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UK teachers remain confused about vaping harms despite confidence in classroom discussions
A pioneering UK study has found that although teachers feel increasingly confident discussing vaping with pupils, many still misunderstand how harmful vaping is compared with smoking. Conducted among 45 teachers in England and Scotland who delivered INTENT’s vaping prevention materials, the research is the first to explore teachers’ experiences of vaping education outside the US.
Teachers generally responded positively to INTENT’s materials, noting improvements in both their own and their pupils’ understanding of vaping risks and smoking cessation. However, widespread misconceptions persisted, with many teachers still believing vaping is as dangerous as, or more dangerous than, smoking. Researchers said this confusion underscores the need for clearer, evidence-based guidance.
The study highlighted teachers’ key role in shaping young people’s health behaviours and their strong motivation to address vaping in schools. The authors concluded that consistent, evidence-based prevention materials for both vaping and smoking are essential to help schools deliver accurate health messages and reduce youth nicotine use.
Source: News-Medical, 12 November 2025
See also: Lee A. et al. Teachers’ experiences of delivering youth vaping prevention materials in schools in England and Scotland: A cross-sectional online survey. PLOS ONE. 2025.
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BAT accused of hypocrisy for fighting Zambian tobacco laws it obeys in Britain
British American Tobacco (BAT) has been criticised for what campaigners called “utter hypocrisy” after it lobbied Zambian officials to weaken tobacco control measures that mirror those already in place in the UK. The company’s Zambian branch asked ministers to delay or scale back plans for graphic health warnings, set to cover 75% of packaging, and to remove restrictions on flavoured products, even though such flavours have been banned in the UK since 2020.
Health advocates said the proposals would undermine efforts to curb smoking in a country where more than 7,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases each year. The World Health Organization has warned that tobacco firms are increasingly interfering with public health policy.
Source: The Guardian, 13 November 2025
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Written Answers
Asked by The Rt. Hon the Lord Young of Cookham, Deputy Speaker, Conservative
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish a roadmap to a smoke-free Britain, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
Answered by The Baroness Merron, Women's Health and Mental Health Minister, Labour
The 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom and to protect future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently in committee stage in the House of Lords.
There are no plans to develop a roadmap at this time, but we will keep this under review. Our attention and focus must be on delivering this legislation and on designing the regulations that follow.
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Asked by Gregory Campbell, Spokesperson on International Development and Cabinet Office, Democratic Unionist Party, East Londonderry
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on the level of risk of vaping on (a) fertility and (b) pregnancy.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
The current evidence is clear that vaping is safer than smoking, including the impact on fertility and pregnancy. Smoking affects the ability to conceive for both men and women, with all stages of reproductive function affected by tobacco toxicants. Pregnant women are especially advised to quit smoking, due to the two-fold increased risk of low birthweight, 27% increase in premature birth, 32% increase in miscarriage, and 47% increase in stillbirth.
Whilst research in this area is limited, a study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research found that vaping can be a more effective cessation aid for pregnant women than traditional nicotine replacement therapies, with almost twice as many women in this study quitting smoking with vapes rather than with nicotine patches. Importantly, this study concluded that the safety of vapes for use during pregnancy was similar to that of nicotine patches.
However, the long-term harms of vaping are not fully known. Therefore, non-smokers should not vape.
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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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