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Category: Around the Industry

  • Another Top China Tobacco Regulator Under Investigation

    Another Top China Tobacco Regulator Under Investigation

    Han Zhanwu, deputy director and Party Leadership Group member of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), is under investigation for suspected “serious violations of Party disciplinary rules and laws,” the country’s top anti-graft bodies announced yesterday (October 12). The probe is being conducted by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. Han, 59, has been out of the public eye for nearly a month, with his last public appearance during a research trip to Jiangsu province in early September.

    Han, the highest-ranking deputy director at STMA, has previously held senior positions including Director and Party Secretary of the China National Machinery & Equipment Tendering Corporation and leadership roles within the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He took up his current post at the STMA in April 2020. The administration, directly under the State Council, regulates China’s vast tobacco sector.

    Han’s investigation continues a broader anti-corruption campaign in China’s tobacco system that began in 2021. More than 10 officials have been probed to date, including six current or former STMA leaders. Notably, Ling Chengxing, former Party Secretary and Director, received a 16-year sentence in May 2025 for bribery and abuse of power, while Deputy Director Xu Lin was reported under investigation in May this year.

  • Portugal Expects $2B from Tobacco, Alcohol, Sugar Consumption 

    Portugal Expects $2B from Tobacco, Alcohol, Sugar Consumption 

    Portugal’s government expects to collect an additional €79 million from tobacco and alcohol taxes in 2026, driven by higher consumption, according to the proposed State Budget. Revenue from the Tobacco Tax (IT) is projected to rise 4.4%, or €71 million, to €1.7 billion, while the Tax on Alcohol, Alcoholic Beverages, and Drinks with Added Sugar (IABA) is expected to increase by €8 million, or 2.5%, reaching €328 million.

    Combined, the two levies are estimated to generate €2 billion, accounting for 5.3% of indirect tax revenue and just under 3% of total tax revenue. The budget notes that IABA-related state fiscal expenditure will rise 2.2% to €72.2 million, largely due to exemptions for “alcohol for therapeutic and sanitary purposes” and, to a lesser extent, non-alcoholic beverages. These exemptions are projected to represent 86.7% of IABA tax expenditures in 2026.

    By contrast, the tobacco tax is expected to generate revenue without incurring any tax expenditure, reflecting its role as a net contributor to the state budget. The government cites continued private consumption as the key driver behind the anticipated growth in tobacco and alcohol tax receipts.

  • Korea: Male Smoking Prevalence Drops Drastically Since 2015

    Korea: Male Smoking Prevalence Drops Drastically Since 2015

    Cigarette smoking among young South Korean men has dropped sharply over the past decade, according to new data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). In 2024, 28.5% of men in their 30s and 22.6% of men aged 19 to 29 were cigarette smokers—declines of 19.5% and 16.1% respectively since 2015. Men in their 40s recorded the highest smoking rate at 36.9%, down from 45.8%.

    The study also found that about 40% of men in their 30s used some form of tobacco in 2024, down only 4.9% from 2019. For men in their 40s, total tobacco use increased slightly despite a small decline in cigarette smoking, reflecting the growing shift toward alternative products.

    Health officials attribute part of the trend to changing perceptions about harm. A September 2025 survey of students found that 32.2% believed e-cigarettes were less harmful—or not harmful at all—compared to cigarettes. While authorities welcome the decline in cigarette use, they warn that misconceptions about alternative products may slow broader tobacco harm-reduction progress.

  • Tobacco Farmers Biometrically Registered in Zimbabwe

    Tobacco Farmers Biometrically Registered in Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe has biometrically registered more than 113,000 tobacco farmers since the program began earlier this year, as part of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB)’s drive to improve transparency and security in the sector. The initiative links each farmer’s unique grower number to their fingerprints, GPS coordinates, and demographic information, ensuring that only genuine growers participate in the market and helping protect farmers from exploitation.

    TIMB public affairs officer Chelesani Moyo Tsarwe said the biometric system will help eliminate fraud, curb side marketing, and enhance efficiency across the industry. “TIMB has rolled out a biometric grower management system to address the longstanding challenges within Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector,” she said. “The new system introduces biometric data capture, linking each farmer’s unique grower number to their fingerprints, GPS co-ordinates of their household and farm, and demographic data.”

  • George Munoz Retires from Altria Board

    George Munoz Retires from Altria Board

    George Muñoz, a director of Altria since 2004, notified Altria of his decision to retire from service on the company’s Board of Directors following the completion of his current term. Consequently, Muñoz will not stand for re-election to the board at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which Altria anticipates holding on May 14, 2026.

    “George has made extensive and significant contributions to Altria over more than 20 years,” said Kathryn McQuade, Altria’s independent Chair of the Board. “We thank George for his long-standing and valuable service and wish him the very best upon his retirement.”

    Muñoz is Chair of the Compensation and Talent Development Committee and is a member of the Audit, Executive and Finance Committees. He previously served as the Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Muñoz is a principal of Muñoz Investment Banking Group and a partner at the law firm of Tobin & Muñoz. Muñoz is also a director of Laureate Education.

  • Nearly Half of Gen Z Think UK is Becoming a ‘Nanny State’

    Nearly Half of Gen Z Think UK is Becoming a ‘Nanny State’

    New research suggests growing public unease in the UK with what many see as government overreach into private lives. According to data released today (October 2), 41% of Brits believe the UK is turning into a “nanny state.” The survey, commissioned by online nicotine pouch retailer Northerner, comes as debates intensify over policies such as junk food advertising bans, restrictions on vaping, and the rollout of digital ID cards.

    “It is a fine line between protecting and controlling the public, and it seems many people feel this line is being crossed,” said Markus Lindblad, head of legal and external affairs at Northerner. “Regulations like calorie labelling on menus or the disposable vape ban have not delivered the expected results. If the public does not see any real improvement to their lives from these additional regulations, then it is reasonable for them to question whether the UK is becoming a nanny state.”

    One of the more surprising findings Northerner researchers discovered was the generational divide on the question. Typically, older people tend to be more conservative and younger people more progressive; however, in this survey, 47% of Gen Z respondents  (aged 18 to 24) agreed the UK is becoming a nanny state, compared to just 32% of those aged 45 to 54. This shift, researchers say, suggests fatigue among younger voters, some of whom are increasingly open to alternatives like Reform UK, a party campaigning against lifestyle regulation.

    The UK currently ranks seventh in the 2025 Nanny State Index, placing it in the “least free” category among 29 countries for policies on food, alcohol, smoking, and vaping.

  • BAT Korea Replacing Butts with Flowers

    BAT Korea Replacing Butts with Flowers

    BAT Rothmans Korea expanded its flower-planting campaign to eight districts across Seoul, aiming to curb cigarette litter and promote cleaner public spaces, the company announced. Carried out in partnership with the Seoul Chapter of the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature, the campaign involves 700 volunteers from the company, civic groups, and neighborhoods.

    Since launching in 2023, the project has transformed 50 alleyways—often hotspots for discarded cigarette butts—into decorated streets lined with 3,000 trees and flowers from 17 species. Districts including Jung, Gangnam, Gangdong, and Jongno have been part of the initiative, which has drawn support from local residents who help maintain the plants.

    BAT Rothmans says the initiative improves commercial areas while promoting sustainable environmental practices.

  • Consumer Group’s Pouch Tour Hits Belgium

    Last week, the international consumer group Considerate Pouchers brought its Protect Pouches campaign to Brussels, calling for an end to Belgium’s ban on nicotine pouches. Volunteers engaged citizens and policymakers, distributed fresh Jet Pack coffee, and collected postcards urging Members of the European Parliament to lift restrictions.

    The campaign said that Belgium, with one of Western Europe’s highest smoking rates, denies smokers access to safer alternatives shown to be more than 95% less harmful than cigarettes. Global spokesperson Juan Rafael Taborcía emphasized that over-taxation and bans drive consumers back to cigarettes, and that Brussels should lead Europe in harm reduction.

    The Brussels action is part of a broader European tour.

  • Jordan Aiming to Cut One of the World’s Highest Smoking Rates

    Jordan Aiming to Cut One of the World’s Highest Smoking Rates

    Experts in Jordan warn that the country’s reliance on tobacco revenue undermines long-term economic growth and public health, and as such, advocates are calling for policy reforms that prioritize prevention, strengthen enforcement, and protect health systems from the economic and societal costs of widespread smoking, according to Ammannet, the Community Media Network.

    Jordan, with 71.2% of its male population smoking, faces a stark financial and health paradox, according to Ammannet, with tobacco tax revenues providing the government JD 1 billion ($1.4 billion) annually, yet the cost of treating tobacco-related diseases alone exceeds JD 1.4 billion ($2 billion).

    The article said weak law enforcement compounds the problem, with widespread smoking reported in universities, government offices, and even health facilities. Despite 37% of smokers attempting cessation in the past year, government programs remain insufficient.

  • Posturing Continues as Indonesia Considers Scrapping Tobacco Excise Hike

    Posturing Continues as Indonesia Considers Scrapping Tobacco Excise Hike

    News that Indonesia’s Finance Ministry is considering canceling next year’s planned cigarette excise increase following consultations with the tobacco industry has drawn sharp backlash from health groups, academics, and child advocates, who warn it threatens public health and undermines anti-smoking efforts. Critics urge the government to instead pursue higher annual increases—at least 25%—along with reforms to simplify excise tiers, narrow tariff gaps, and reduce cigarette affordability.

    Last week, citing the current 57% rate as the legal tax ceiling under Law No. 39/2007, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said cleaning up the illegal tobacco market and protecting jobs was more prudent. Industry players agreed, arguing that further tax hikes would strain manufacturers, farmers, and workers.