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** 21 January 2026
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** UK
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** Baroness Hoey criticises Attorney General over legal concerns regarding the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#1)
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** UK inflation increases in December, with tobacco prices among drivers (#2)
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** NHS App set to play central role in prevention strategy (#3)
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** International
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** Vaping study retracted two years after concerns raised (#4)
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** UK
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** Baroness Hoey criticises Attorney General over legal concerns regarding the Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Baroness Hoey has expressed frustration with Attorney General Lord Hermer’s response to her letter raising concerns about the compatibility of the upcoming smokefree generation policy with the Windsor Framework. The Attorney General and the government maintain that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will apply across all of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Health Secretary Wes Streeting reinforced that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill “will save thousands of lives and protect the NHS”.

Source: Daily Express, 20 January 2026

Editorial note: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently being reviewed under the EU Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS). This is due to the Bill applying in Northern Ireland which is still subject to some EU regulations as a result of the Windsor Framework. Due to the objections raised by Greece, Slovakia, Romania, Czechia, Italy, and Portugal the TRIS process has been extended to 18th February 2026. The UK government has said:

“The Technical Regulatory Information System (TRIS) notification is a routine procedure required under the Windsor Framework. It is not an approval process.

“Receiving detailed opinions are a part of the TRIS process. The Government’s position remains that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will apply in Northern Ireland and is consistent with both our domestic and international obligations.”

A recent report ([link removed]) published by the European Respiratory Society confirms that a smokefree generation law would be legal for an EU member state to introduce.

The Northern Irish Assembly approved the Legislative Consent Motion for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in February, meaning that the Bill will also apply in Northern Ireland once it is passed into law.

Tobacco companies have a long history of using legal challenges to delay and block anti-smoking policies. The industry has stepped up it’s lobbying ([link removed]) of EU policymakers and some EU member states have been accused of ([link removed]) using their political influence to defend the interests of the industry. Both Greece and Romania have opposed the EU Commission’s attempts to strengthen the Tobacco Products Directive.

See also: ASH – Does the Smokefree Generation Really Break EU Law? Industry vs Evidence ([link removed])
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** UK inflation increases in December, with tobacco prices among drivers

UK inflation rose to 3.4% in December, marking the first increase in five months and coming in slightly above forecasts. The rise was linked to higher airfares over the festive period and an increase in tobacco duty, as well as rising food costs.

Source: BBC News, 21 January 2026
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** NHS App set to play central role in prevention strategy

The NHS App is planned to become the primary national platform to support preventative healthcare in England as part of the government’s long-term health reforms. Rachel Hope, NHS England’s director of digital prevention argues that the app’s scale and growing user base make it well suited to reach the public directly for preventative interventions such as vaccinations, screening and digital health checks. The approach aims to move beyond simple alerts towards full digital pathways, enabling referrals, data sharing and closer links with local services. Recent supplier contracts are expected to accelerate personalised prevention through the app.

Source: Digital Health, 21 January 2026
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** International
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** Vaping study retracted two years after concerns raised

A 2022 study in Neurology International linking e-cigarette use to increased stroke risk has been withdrawn following the discovery of serious methodological errors. The research misrepresented institutional affiliations and contained flaws in data analysis. The author of the paper has been linked with a paper mill, and several co-authors had paid to be named on the paper. Questions about sample size and overall validity were raised by independent researchers, prompting an investigation. The authors could not provide sufficient supporting evidence, and the journal decided retraction was necessary. The paper had previously been widely covered in the media.

Source: Retraction Watch, 21 January 2026

See also: Urvish Patel et al. RETRACTED: Effect Comparison of E-Cigarette and Traditional Smoking and Association with Stroke - A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES. ([link removed]) Neurology International. 2022, 14, 441-452. [link removed]
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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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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