|
|
|
|
Dual use of cigarettes and vapes may aid quitting, study suggests
A year-long investigation involving nearly 900 smokers found that those who combined vaping with cigarette use reduced their exposure to harmful substances in tobacco and were more likely to give up smoking over time.
The study, led by Dr Francesca Pesola and Professor Peter Hajek, also found that people using e-cigarettes reported weaker urges to smoke than those relying on nicotine-replacement products, helping to explain why vaping can support gradual reduction and eventual cessation. Participants generally began with stronger nicotine e-liquids before progressing to weaker or nicotine-free options, and most preferred non-tobacco flavours, which were linked with better long-term outcomes.
Source: MedicalXpress, 11 December 2025
See also: Pesola F., Hejl P., et al. Patterns of e-cigarette use and smoking cessation outcomes: Secondary analysis of a large RCT to inform clinical advice. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2025. DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntaf240
|
|
New Labour peers named in upcoming honours list
Nick Forbes, the former head of Newcastle City Council and a trustee of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), is among Labour’s newest peers. He is joined by Matthew Doyle, formerly a senior communications adviser in Downing Street and the Labour Party; Lewisham Mayor Brenda Dacres; former parliamentary candidate Shama Tatler; and Fabian Society chair Dr Sara Hyde, along with a wide range of other civic, academic and party figures.
These appointments form part of a broader set of political nominations that also includes five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and one crossbench nominee. Neither the Greens nor Reform UK received nominations.
Source: LabourList, 10 December 2025
Editorial note: Nick Forbes was leader of Newcastle Council when it developed the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.
The Declaration is a statement of a council’s commitment to ensure tobacco control is part of mainstream public health work and commits councils to taking comprehensive action to address the harm from smoking. You can read more about the Declaration the ASH website.
|
|
EU officials aided Philip Morris International in overseas lobbying push, documents reveal
Newly released correspondence shows that EU trade officials held multiple undisclosed meetings with Philip Morris International (PMI) and, on several occasions, took steps that aligned with the tobacco giant’s requests to ease restrictions on its products in countries outside the bloc. The documents — obtained by the French group Contre-Feu and analysed by The Examination and POLITICO — indicate that from 2022 to 2024, Commission staff engaged with PMI at least six times as the company sought support in challenging bans and taxes affecting its heated tobacco device, IQOS, in 10 non-EU markets.
The interactions included EU officials questioning Turkey about its cigarette tax regime and rules on domestic tobacco, and flagging Mexico’s ban on new nicotine products as a potential trade barrier. PMI later thanked Commission staff for actions it said were “of great help,” even though the EU insists such contacts were limited to trade-related matters and did not involve supporting tobacco industry health policy positions.
The exchanges have triggered concerns that the Commission may have fallen short of its obligations under the global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which requires governments to minimise and publicly disclose interactions with the tobacco industry. None of the meetings were published on the EU’s transparency registers, despite guidelines urging openness.
Public health experts warn that PMI’s strategy reframes tobacco regulation as a trade issue to win concessions abroad, even as most of the targeted countries — including Brazil, India, Thailand and Vietnam — maintain bans or strict controls on heated tobacco. While no immediate regulatory changes followed the EU’s interventions, campaigners say the undisclosed meetings highlight weaknesses in existing transparency rules and demonstrate the persistent influence of a well-funded tobacco lobbying network in Brussels.
Source: POLITICO, 10 December 2025
See also: University of Bath - Tobacco Tactics | ASH - Briefing on the tobacco industry and their tactics | EUReporter - EU officials’ contacts with tobacco industry under scrutiny after new report questions transparency | Global Banking & Finance - Tobacco industry links with EU officials underreported, campaigners say
|
|
BAT sees Vuse sales stabilise in US amid illicit vape crackdown
British American Tobacco (BAT) has reported signs of recovery for its Vuse brand in the US which the company attributes to government efforts to curb the illicit vape market.
The company expects full-year Vuse revenues to decline by a high single digit, an improvement from a 13% drop in the first half. BAT’s global non-tobacco products, including oral nicotine pouches, have seen double-digit growth in the second half of the year, with the division projected to achieve mid-single-digit revenue growth overall.
BAT shares fell 4% in morning trading, as analysts noted forecasts for 2026 remain at the lower end of the company’s targets.
Source: Independent, 9 December 2025
|
|
Written answers
Asked by Mary Glindon, Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has made an assessment on the potential impact of vape flavour restrictions in (a) Canada, (b) Australia and (c) Netherlands on smoking cessation in the context of the proposed regulation of vape flavours in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire, Labour
The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.
That is why it is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people, whilst ensuring vapes remain available for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes regulation making powers to limit vape flavours, to reduce the appeal to children. Before laying any regulations in Parliament, we will undertake a full public consultation to ensure we get this balance right and consider the views of a range of stakeholders. We will publish thorough impact assessments to accompany any future regulations, including future flavour restrictions. These assessments will consider the international evidence available.
In October 2025, we launched a call for evidence to gather information on flavours and substances in vaping, nicotine, and tobacco products, aiming to better understand the role and risks of flavourings and ingredients. The call for evidence also seeks to identify where efforts to control flavours have been effective or not.
Adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as alternative methods to support them to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services.
|
|
Asked by Mary Glindon, Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of flavoured vapes on tobacco smoking cessation.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire, Labour
The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.
That is why it is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people, whilst ensuring vapes remain available for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes regulation making powers to limit vape flavours, to reduce the appeal to children. Before laying any regulations in Parliament, we will undertake a full public consultation to ensure we get this balance right and consider the views of a range of stakeholders. We will publish thorough impact assessments to accompany any future regulations, including future flavour restrictions. These assessments will consider the international evidence available.
In October 2025, we launched a call for evidence to gather information on flavours and substances in vaping, nicotine, and tobacco products, aiming to better understand the role and risks of flavourings and ingredients. The call for evidence also seeks to identify where efforts to control flavours have been effective or not.
Adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as alternative methods to support them to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services.
|
|
Asked by Mary Glindon, Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Labour
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of scientific evidence on vape flavours as a smoking cessation aid.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire, Labour
The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smoking.
That is why it is important we strike the balance between restricting vape flavours to reduce their appeal to young people, whilst ensuring vapes remain available for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes regulation making powers to limit vape flavours, to reduce the appeal to children. Before laying any regulations in Parliament, we will undertake a full public consultation to ensure we get this balance right and consider the views of a range of stakeholders. We will publish thorough impact assessments to accompany any future regulations, including future flavour restrictions. These assessments will consider the international evidence available.
In October 2025, we launched a call for evidence to gather information on flavours and substances in vaping, nicotine, and tobacco products, aiming to better understand the role and risks of flavourings and ingredients. The call for evidence also seeks to identify where efforts to control flavours have been effective or not.
Adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as alternative methods to support them to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services.
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
@ASHorguk
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
