Vapers Digest 28th March
Friday’s News at a glance:
Smoking Rates Fall And Rise ~ Parliament Matters Too ~ Wards Need Quit Support ~ Thailand offers cash rewards for reporting e-cigarette use amid vaping crackdown ~ Zambia’s Tobacco Control Bill Will Put Lives at Risk ~ “EU wants to increase tax on nicotine pouches by 500%” ~ One third of vapers in the UK willing to buy illegal vapes ~ Philip Morris’ heated tobacco device IQOS goes on sale in Texas ~ Reports on ASH breached standards and fell well short of journalistic expectations ~ Four Types of Killjoy: #1 Anti-smoking ~ Dutch official compares vaping to heroin and crack use ~ U.S. tobacco and flavour bans have made no impact on youth smoking or vaping, expert study shows ~ Vapes have no significant impact on lung function, new CoEHAR umbrella review finds ~ Utah: Enforcement Begins on Flavor Ban and PMTA Registry ~ Will New FDA Commissioner Martin Makary Save Vaping? ~ Tennessee bill aiming to curb illegal vape sales could shut down shops: Here’s why ~ East Tenn. vape shop owner testifies against new vape bill in TN Capitol ~ ASH Welcomes BSA Decision Upholding Multiple Complaints Against ThreeNews For Unfair, Inaccurate & Unbalanced Stories ~ Trump Has Fewer Than 30 Days to Keep Promise on Flavored Vapes ~ Nicotine Paradox | Safer Than Smoking, But Still Under Attack | RegWatch
Three from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes
Smoking Rates Fall And Rise
Smoking rates have fallen more quickly in the north of England compared to other regions, according to a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers. This is countered by a rise of 17% in the South-West and smoking rates going up by 10% in the south of England.
Parliament Matters Too
Lucy Powell makes an announcement to the House about this week’s activity. Lib Dem Al Pinkerton asked about illegal vapes in Surrey Heath. Tristan Osborne wants secondary legislation to double ban disposable vapes and seems to think government agencies are unaware of the impending ban this summer.
Wards Need Quit Support
New research from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), funded by Cancer Research UK, finds that people admitted to mental health trusts have better access to treatment for smoking than they did 5 years ago but are being let down by a failure to create smokefree care environments. The findings come as the government prepares to ban smoking on all hospital grounds – legislation supported by ASH that contains restrictions on the availability of vape products in mental health units.
Thailand offers cash rewards for reporting e-cigarette use amid vaping crackdown
SCMP
Thailand has introduced a bold initiative that offers cash rewards to citizens for reporting e-cigarette use to combat the rising trend of vaping and address public health concerns.
The Prime Minister’s office announced the plan on Wednesday, local media reported.
Zambia’s Tobacco Control Bill Will Put Lives at Risk
Campaign for Safer Alternatives (C.A.S.A.)
One in 10 adults – including a staggering one in five men – in Zambia smokes. This equates to approximately 1.2 million smokers and causes the tragic loss of 7,100 lives every year to tobacco-related illnesses.
The Government’s Tobacco Control Bill 2025 seeks to stop the scourge of tobacco in Zambia, and while the intention behind the Bill is to improve public health, it’s clear that the Bill will hinder progress in reducing smoking rates and cost lives.
“EU wants to increase tax on nicotine pouches by 500%”
Stefan Mathisson, Vejpkollen
An increase of almost 500% in the tax on white snus. This is the content of a leaked proposal to the European Commission intended to create a so-called harmonisation of taxes on different nicotine products within the EU. Now consumers and retailers are up in arms.
One third of vapers in the UK willing to buy illegal vapes
Fiona Briggs, Retail Times
Illegal vapes are on the rise in the UK, with Trading Standards announcing a 59% increase in seizures between 2023 and 2024. This resulted in 1.2 million unregulated vapes being taken off the streets, but this figure could be just the tip of the iceberg. The disposable vapes ban set to come into force on the 1st of June this year is predicted to cause a surge in demand for black market vapes.
Philip Morris’ heated tobacco device IQOS goes on sale in Texas
Emma Rumney, Reuters
Philip Morris International (PM.N), opens new tab began selling its IQOS heated tobacco device in Austin, Texas on Thursday for $60 a piece, an executive told Reuters, kicking off efforts by the world’s largest cigarette maker to build a market for its flagship heated tobacco device in the United States.
Reports on ASH breached standards and fell well short of journalistic expectations
BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY (BSA)
The BSA has upheld two complaints from Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH) about two ThreeNews items reporting concerns about ASH.
The Authority found the reporting on alleged conflicts of interest and ASH’s stance on vaping breached multiple broadcasting standards.
It has ordered broadcaster Warner Brothers Discovery to publish a statement summarising the decision, pay $1,710.62 in costs to the complainant, and pay $3,000 costs to the Crown.
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…
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