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UK cigar lounges face scrutiny over indoor smoking loophole
Writing for The Times, Eleanor Hayward, Health Editor, and Andy Silvester, London Editor, report that the UK government is facing pressure to close a long-standing loophole allowing indoor smoking in premium cigar lounges, such as those at JJ Fox and the Ritz, introduced under the 2007 smoking ban for “tobacco sampling.”
Peers have tabled an amendment to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which would close this loophole, banning smoking in cigar shops. A rival amendment pushed by cigar lounges would exempt cigars from the generational smoking ban.
Helen Duffy from Action on Smoking and Health argues that the current ‘sampling’ exemption has been exploited beyond its original purpose and exposes workers to second-hand smoke. She states that creating a new loophole in the generational ban risks younger generations taking up smoking and undermines decades of work to reduce tobacco harm.
Industry representatives argue that cigars are culturally distinct from cigarettes, highlighting their historical significance, tourist appeal, and economic contribution, and warn that removing the exemption could threaten small businesses. Ministers have not indicated plans to amend the legislation.
Source: The Times, 1 December 2025
See also: ASH - The Tobacco and Vapes Bill
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Retailer criticises shrinking profits on tobacco sales
A convenience store owner in Glasgow has claimed that diminishing profit margins on tobacco products are placing undue pressure on small shops. He reports that some cigarette lines have margins as low as 2.4%, with the typical being around 4 %, and argues that such minimal income is unworkable for small retailers.
Source: Convenience Store, 1 December 2025
Editorial note: Footfall from tobacco sales has decreased by nearly 40% in small retail outlets compared to less than a decade ago. ASH analysis in 2015 found that 21% of transactions included tobacco. By 2022, this had fallen 12.8% according to research from the University of Edinburgh. Retailer profit margins on tobacco are 8.5%, compared to 37.1% for vapes and 21% across all product types.
See also: ASH - Press Release: Vapes four times more profitable to convenience stores than tobacco
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New nicotine pouch brand aims to broaden pouch appeal
Continental Tobacco Group has introduced Slay, a female-led lifestyle nicotine pouch brand marketed to adult consumers who don’t currently use nicotine pouches. The article states that the female-led launch introduces pastel-toned, packaging designed to catch the eye in store and prompt spontaneous buying. Each flavour, including Mad Menthol, Raspberry Sky, Matcha Mint, Caffé Latté and Sweet Emotion, carries its own colour theme.
Tamas Rigo, Marketing Lead for Slay, said that early retail trials show strong consumer interest. A nationwide rollout is planned and will be supported by in-store marketing, digital activity, and promotional materials designed to build visibility.
Source: Grocery Trader, 2 December 2025
Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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Smoking during pregnancy continues to fall, with Lambeth reporting lowest rates
The proportion of pregnant women smoking at delivery in England has continued its downward trend, dropping below 5% in the first quarter of 2025/26. Lambeth and Wandsworth recorded the lowest levels nationally, with fewer than 1% of expectant mothers identified as smokers.
Health services in Lambeth offer a combination of nicotine replacement therapies, vaping support, and behavioural counselling to assist pregnant women in quitting. National figures show a long-term decline in maternal smoking since 2006/07, and projections suggest the trend will stabilise around 4.1% for the current year.
Source: SW Londoner, 1 December 2025
Editorial note: The article includes a quote from a woman named Annmarie who says that her gynaecologist told her to reduce smoking to two cigarettes a day and that “if she suddenly stopped it could have had negative effects on the unborn baby.” This advice contradicts clinical guidance from NICE and the NCSCT. Any smoking during pregnancy is harmful, and pregnant women and people should be encouraged to quit immediately to minimise risks to their baby’s health and development. See the NCSCT Standard Treatment Programme for Pregnant Women.
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Vapes continue to cause fires despite disposable ban
Six months after the UK banned disposable vapes, waste management firms report that incorrectly discarded devices are still triggering fires in rubbish trucks and waste facilities. Suez, which operates over 300 sites nationwide, recorded 339 fires this year, attributing the risk to lithium batteries in crushed or damaged vapes. Waste firms report that some reusable vapes are being treated as single-use, while illegal disposables continue to enter the market.
Local authorities emphasise the need for greater consumer awareness and proper recycling, including specialist takeback bins. Government measures include enforcement of the ban, retailer obligations to provide recycling points, and penalties for illegal sales. Suez has called for more ambitious producer-funded recycling initiatives to mitigate fire risks and environmental damage.
Source: BBC News, 1 December 2025
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UK agrees to pay more for innovative drugs under US trade deal
The UK has committed to increasing payments for new medicines by 25% by 2035 as part of a UK–US trade agreement, potentially adding £3 billion a year to NHS expenditure. The deal is intended to allow tens of thousands more patients access to breakthrough treatments and to encourage pharmaceutical investment in the UK, while also avoiding punitive US tariffs on British drug exports.
As part of the agreement, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will raise the threshold for cost-effectiveness, enabling approval of additional high-cost therapies. Critics warn the arrangement will strain NHS budgets, potentially diverting funds from frontline services, though government sources maintain early funding allocations will prevent immediate cuts.
Source: The Guardian, 1 December 2025
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Opinion: Men’s health strategy must operate within a functioning NHS
In an editorial, The Guardian states that the UK’s new men’s health strategy takes important steps to address the specific risks faced by boys and men, including higher rates of suicide, smoking, obesity, accidents, and prostate cancer. While the article argues that key initiatives and associated funding, such as £300m for community health projects, are welcome, it emphasises that an overstretched NHS and long waiting lists limit the strategy’s potential impact.
The article also highlights positive measures, stating that improved data collection, promotion of physical activity, peer-support programmes, and targeted interventions for vulnerable groups could be valuable. It also states that pilot projects on prostate cancer screening and other health innovations may help, but the strategy cannot substitute for fundamental issues in NHS capacity and organisation.
Source: The Guardian, 1 December 2025
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Opinion: China urged to reinforce tobacco control to protect public health
Writing in China Daily, former deputy editor-in-chief Kang Bin argues that despite more than a decade of anti-smoking efforts, China still faces a significant challenge, with around 300 million smokers nationwide. Bin highlights that past campaigns, higher tobacco taxes, and strict bans in public spaces have reduced smoking rates from 27.7% in 2015 to 23.2% in 2024, representing roughly 60 million fewer smokers.
However, Bin states that progress risks stalling due to lax enforcement and public non-compliance, citing widespread smoking in no-smoking areas and confrontations with those attempting to uphold the rules. Bin states that reaching the national target of a 20% smoking prevalence by 2030 will require ongoing vigilance, stronger enforcement, and active support from both authorities and the public to maintain and build on the achievements of previous tobacco control measures.
Source: China Daily, 2 December 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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