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** 19 January 2026
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** UK
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** Former smokers in Hull share personal stories to encourage quitting (#1)
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** MP urges ban on high-capacity vaping devices (#2)
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** Council investigation brings down organised illicit tobacco network (#3)
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** Shopping centre to ban vaping indoors to improve visitor experience (#4)
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** Hospital staff warn of rising vaping among young teenagers (#5)
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** Opinion: Cigar lounges threatened by self-styled ‘public health’ lordships (#6)
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** Retailer Paul Cheema responds to ASH letter to retailers (#7)
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** International
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** Singapore maintains hard line on illegal e-cigarettes (#8)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Answers (#9)
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** UK
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** Former smokers in Hull share personal stories to encourage quitting

A new short film produced by Hull City Council and SmokeFree Hull features long-term smokers who have given up cigarettes and are now urging others to do the same. The campaign is aimed at tackling Hull’s persistently high smoking rates, which remain among the highest in England.

Participants in the film describe how smoking affected their health and family lives over decades, often limiting their ability to spend time with loved ones. Since quitting, they report improvements in mobility, energy and relationships, particularly with children and grandchildren.

The film also includes local councillors who speak openly about stopping smoking due to serious health concerns and family responsibilities. Public health leaders in the city say the campaign’s strength lies in its focus on real experiences, showing that quitting is possible even after many years and can lead to a better quality of life.

Source: BBC News, 18 January 2026
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** MP urges ban on high-capacity vaping devices

A senior Labour MP has warned that so-called monster vapes capable of delivering tens of thousands of puffs should be banned in the UK. Dr Beccy Cooper MP argues that manufacturers are exploiting loopholes in current regulations by selling reusable devices made up of multiple small tanks, allowing them to exceed existing limits, and calls for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be strengthened to close these gaps.

Source: The Mirror, 17 January 2026

Editorial note: The article misleadingly conflates the number of puffs in a vape with the number of puffs in a cigarette, implying that both products are similarly harmful. While vapes are not risk free, they expose users to significantly lower levels of harmful substances linked to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, compared to cigarettes.
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** Council investigation brings down organised illicit tobacco network

A long-running investigation by a local trading standards officer has dismantled a criminal group that operated a network of UK convenience stores selling illegal cigarettes. What appeared to be ordinary minimarts were used as fronts for large-scale tobacco smuggling, with stock concealed in sophisticated hidden compartments built into shop floors, walls and counters.

The operation, centred in the West Midlands, involved cigarettes smuggled from overseas or sold without UK duty being paid, generating substantial profits that were spent on luxury items and property. Despite repeated raids and prosecutions for trademark and regulatory offences, the group adapted its methods and continued trading for several years. The case led to prison sentences for the head of the operation and several associates following evidence gathered by trading standards officers and HM Revenue & Customs.

HMRC estimates that illicit cigarettes accounted for about 10% of those consumed in the UK in 2023–24, equating to two billion cigarettes, a sharp reduction from levels seen in 2000 when this figure was around 15 billion. This is attributed to stronger anti-smuggling measures and falling demand.

Source: The Sunday Times, 17 January 2026
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** Shopping centre to ban vaping indoors to improve visitor experience

Luton Point shopping will prohibit vaping across its entire site from 1 February 2026, as part of a new Escape the Vape campaign. The ban covers malls, entrances, stairwells, walkways and car parks, and visitors who wish to vape must move outside and away from the entrances.

The centre says the move is aimed at creating a cleaner, more comfortable space for all users, especially families and younger visitors, reducing exposure to vapour, discouraging normalisation of vaping and cutting down on litter related to vape products.

Luton Point positions the policy as part of a wider effort to prioritise community wellbeing and to align with broader national conversations on vaping. Enforcement will focus on polite reminders rather than confrontation, with clear signage throughout the centre.

Source: BBC News, 17 January 2026
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** Hospital staff warn of rising vaping among young teenagers

Healthcare workers on a paediatric ward at Kettering General Hospital have raised concerns after children as young as 13 disclosed that they use e-cigarettes. Staff say vaping is becoming increasingly common among young patients, despite laws banning the sale of nicotine vapes to under-18s.

To address the issue, the hospital is launching a poster competition aimed at increasing awareness of the potential harms of vaping and discouraging experimentation among young people. NHS research shows that a significant proportion of secondary school-aged children have tried e-cigarettes, with a smaller but notable group using them regularly.

Hospital staff and local councillors warn that vapes can contain nicotine and are linked to side effects such as dizziness, heart palpitations and breathing difficulties, while the long-term health impacts remain unclear.

Source: BBC News, 19 January 2026

See also: Youth vaping: the facts ([link removed]) - ASH
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** Opinion: Cigar lounges threatened by self-styled ‘public health’ lordships

In this opinion column, Juliet Samuel contends that peers have proposed an amendment to the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill which would eliminate cigar lounges, which currently operate under a limited exemption to the indoor smoking ban. She describes the Bill as a “pernicious and unnecessary assault on liberty” and portrays cigar lounges as niche, regulated spaces tied to luxury retail rather than casual smoking, and argues they contribute to London’s appeal for specialist cigar buyers.

Samuel criticises “self-styled “public health” lordships” who have sought to close the loophole in the 2007 smoking ban which allows customers to sample cigars before purchasing. She states that the focus on public health and proximity to children is disproportionate given the nature of cigar lounges and their clientele. She frames the effort as part of a broader trend of excessive regulation that prioritises moral signalling over personal choice and cultural tradition.

Source: The Times, 19 January 2026

Editorial note: While traditional cigarette smoking in the UK has declined steadily over recent decades, non-cigarette tobacco use, including cigars and pipes, has grown significantly ([link removed]) . Research shows the number of adults in England who smoke non-cigarette tobacco exclusively, such as cigars, increased about fivefold between 2013 and 2023. This trend has been most pronounced among younger adults.
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** Retailer Paul Cheema responds to ASH letter to retailers

Paul Cheema, owner of Malcolm’s Store in Coventry and a convenience retail campaigner, has criticised an open letter from ASH CEO Hazel Cheeseman to retailers about the implications of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Cheema argues that the letter is disconnected from the realities of running a local shop.

Cheema said the advice downplays the financial importance of nicotine products to independent stores and warned that proposed reforms could harm small businesses while doing little to support existing smokers. He also expressed concern that restricting legal sales could push customers towards illicit tobacco, undermining responsible retailers.

Source: Talking Retail, 15 January 2026

See also: ‘A Historic Shift in Public Health’ - ASH Chief Executive writes to retailers as the smokefree generation law moves closer ([link removed]) - ASH | Open letter to retailers ([link removed]) - ASH

Editorial note: Paul Cheema is the Chairman of the retailer platform C-Talk which lists Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International as brands they work with. Cheema has been repeatedly quoted in tobacco industry comms and media coverage opposing the generational ban. In November 2025, he was awarded the Responsible Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Imperial Brands, at the Asian Trader Awards ceremony.
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** International
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** Singapore maintains hard line on illegal e-cigarettes

Singapore continues to enforce a strict ban on vaping, framing e-cigarettes as both a public health and drug-control issue. Although prohibited since 2018, illicit sales have continued, with growing concern over devices containing etomidate, a sedative associated with serious health incidents, particularly among young people.

Authorities have reinforced existing laws with severe penalties for possession and sale, alongside intensified border inspections, public reporting mechanisms and disciplinary measures in schools. A nationwide public health campaign promotes cessation and encourages users to surrender devices without penalty.

While the policy attracts strong public support, it has also prompted criticism from some users and commentators who argue that a blanket ban disadvantages adults using non-drug vapes and may drive people back to smoking. Supporters counter that firm restrictions are necessary to prevent youth uptake and curb future health risks.

Source: BBC News, 16 January 2026
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Answers

Asked by Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative, Thirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 84923 on Public Houses: Electronic Cigarettes, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of a ban on vaping in pubs on their (a) financial viability and (b) profitability.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives the Government powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free.

We plan to consult on making most indoor settings, that are subject to existing smoke-free legislation, vape-free. This would include inside pubs and other hospitality venues. A number of places have already done this voluntarily.

These measures will be subject to a full consultation, and we will be guided by public health advice. All future regulations will be accompanied by an impact assessment that will consider the economic effects of the proposed measures and will be published as part of the consultation process.
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** Asked by Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat, Westmorland and Lonsdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people died from smoking in England in each year since 2021.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire

The latest estimates for smoking-attributable mortality in England are for the period 2017 to 2019. The Smoking Profile, produced by the Department, reports 191,903 smoking-attributable deaths of people aged 35 years old and over in the period 2017 to 2019 in England, which is just under 64,000 deaths each year. Further information on the Smoking Profile is available at the following link:

[link removed]
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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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