Vapers Digest 14th January
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
‘Toxic’ Research Paper Eviscerated ~ Full-time for Ferndown Store ~ The Purity Regime: Liturgy ~ The Purity Regime: Shielding ~ The Purity Regime: Doctrine ~ Teen nicotine use shifts away from cigarettes as smoking continues to fall, global study finds ~ UK government says nicotine pouches safer than smoking ~ Study on Nicotine Pouch Use in Great Britain Between 2020-2025 ~ Pouch Patrol Announces the Winner of the 2025 Ostrich Award ~ EU Commissioner under fire for smoke-free nicotine statement ~ EU’s Olivér Várhelyi chooses fiction over science on nicotine ~ When Public Health Forgets the Public: Ukraine’s Nicotine Pouch Debate ~ Vermont’s Tobacco Policy Overhaul Undermines Harm Reduction ~ New Hampshire’s Proposed Tobacco Tax Hike Is Regressive and Ignores Long-Term Trends ~ Florida’s Age-Gate Bills Could Redefine Adult Access to Safer Alternatives ~ Single-Use E-Cigarette Ban Would Eliminate Harm Reduction in the Pine Tree State ~ Mississippi’s Hospital Funding Plan Relies on Regressive Tobacco Taxes ~ Asia-Pacific’s Anti-Vaping Stance Faces Global Scrutiny ~ BAT rolls out VELO nicotine pouches in Argentina as social media buzzes about ZYN distribution ~ It’s Time to Upgrade Our Cultural Operating System for Adult Choices Online ~ Suicidal Policy | Michelle Minton & America’s War on Safer Nicotine (Part 2) | RegWatch ~ E-Cigs & Bronchitis: Article Analysis ~UK TOBACCO & VAPES BILL 2026: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Two from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes
‘Toxic’ Research Paper Eviscerated
Self-proclaimed “experts” have called for Europe-wide action “to stem new wave of youth addiction” to vapes, pouches, heated tobacco, shisha, and cigarettes. They make the unsupported claim that nicotine “in all forms is toxic to the heart and blood vessels”. In responding, one actual expert said no experts in vaping or nicotine research were included in the review, and another stated “there is much factually wrong with this report”.
Full-time for Ferndown Store
A Dorset retailer has seen his Ferndown shop ordered to close after he was caught selling multiple types of illegal products including vapes and nicotine pouches. Euro Mini Market, in Victoria Road, was shut down after being investigated by Dorset Council’s Trading Standards team, with support from Dorset Police.
Two From Clearing The Air
Teen nicotine use shifts away from cigarettes as smoking continues to fall, global study finds
A WHO-backed analysis found teenagers were more likely to use non-combustible nicotine products than cigarettes in 31 of 57 countries studied
Public health authorities say vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, because it avoids tobacco combustion
Long-term projections show teen cigarette smoking continuing to decline, while vape use is expected to stabilise
National data from countries such as France suggest overall nicotine use is not rising sharply, as smoking falls faster than vaping increases
UK government says nicotine pouches safer than smoking
Tim Hong
The UK government has formally acknowledged that nicotine pouches are safer than smoking and can play a role in harm reduction for adult smokers.
At the same time, ministers warned that high nicotine strengths raise concerns about dependence, particularly among young people, and said future regulation must balance adult access with youth protection.
In correspondence with campaigners, officials from the Health Secretary’s office agreed that nicotine pouches pose a lower health risk than cigarettes and should be regulated in a way that avoids pushing adult users back to smoking.
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