Category: News This Week

Thailand: Push to Ban Smoking in Cars

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Thailand’s Tobacco Products Control Committee wants to ban smoking in private cars to protect passengers from secondhand smoke, reports The Nation.
Speaking at a seminar on Nov. 5, Rerngruedee Pathanwanit of the Ramathibodi Medical School at Mahidol University said that approximately 70 percent of Thais are affected by secondhand smoke and an average of 20,688 Thais die of health complications caused by secondhand smoke each year.
She also pointed out that Thailand stands fifth in the list of countries where women aged 15 to 49 are affected by secondhand smoke.
Suwanna Ruangkanchasetr, deputy director of the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center, told the seminar that recent research found that up to 55 percent of families with children in the one-five age group had smokers in the house.
Researchers also found unsafe levels of nicotine in the hair of children in homes with smokers, she added.
November 7, 2024
Dutch Flavor Ban Lawful: Court

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The Dutch ban on flavored vapes is lawful, a court in The Hague ruled, arguing that the harmfulness of e-cigarettes and the “attractive effect” of sweet flavors on young people have been sufficiently established, reports The NL Times.
The verdict came in response to a legal challenge brought by British American Tobacco and Nicoventures.
In 2020, the government prohibited all vape flavors other than tobacco, citing not only the receptiveness of young people to such tastes, but also the risk that sweet-tasting e-cigarettes would encourage people to transition to regular cigarettes.
According to the court, any gateway effect does not need to be scientifically proven to justify a ban. The harmfulness vaping and the appeal of sweet flavors to young people are sufficient to justify the measure, the judges noted.
In their appeal, BAT and Nicoventures argued that the measure disrupts the free traffic of goods within the European Union. They also said there was no evidence to suggest that the ban would benefit public health, and they warned that it would discourage smokers from trying to quit cigarettes with the help of e-cigarettes.
The court, however, ruled that the state has the “political discretion to give more weight to the interests of the youth and of a future smoke-free generation in the context of public health.”
And while acknowledging that the ban infringes on the free movement of goods, the court noted that this is permitted to protect public health if it is “appropriate, necessary and proportionate.”
November 7, 2024
VTA Celebrates Impact of U.S. Vaper Voters
The Vapor Technology Association (VTA) celebrated the political currency and success of vaper voters in critical 2024 battleground election states and districts during the recent U.S. elections. According to the trade group, vaper voters helped secure electoral victories for Conservative candidates up and down the ballot.
VTA says its “I Vape I Vote” campaign activated over 360,000 low-propensity voters to support Conservative principles and candidates, including President-elect Donald Trump, in key battleground states and districts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
“Vaper voters showed up in droves to support Conservative candidates who will protect and preserve the rights of Americans to use flavored vaping products,” said VTA Executive Director Tony Abboud.
“VTA’s I Vape I Vote campaign made clear that vaper voters had their voices heard at the ballot box and ensured that Conservative candidates would deliver full-throated endorsements of Americans’ right to use flavored vapes and, critically, use that support to establish a voter currency which propelled several Conservative candidates into office.
“While we are proud to have engaged in the process with several of these Conservative candidates, we are now ready to see their campaign promises committed to action as they work with President-elect Trump and the relevant federal agencies to fix the broken regulatory process by implementing a streamlined regulatory process that ensures access to flavored vapes is protected and companies and distributors have transparent, rational and affordable rules of the road when it comes to this regulatory framework.”
November 7, 2024
School Makes Students Wear Vest While Smoking

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A high school in the Netherlands has banned smoking and vaping unless students have written permission from their parents and wear a yellow high-visibility vest while doing it, reports DutchNews.
The measure is aimed at discouraging unhealthy habits and at involving parents in school policy.
“It’s one of the things that used to be part of the parents’ responsibilities but are now being left to the school,” school board Chairman Hans van Beekum told De Telegraaf. “And the image of all those kids vaping in front of the school was horrible. We needed to do something,” he said.
So far, only nine parents at the 1,300-pupil Lyceum aan Zee school in Den Helder said their children could vape or smoke during breaks. Some parents objected to the yellow vest and even made comparisons to the yellow Star of David that the Nazis required Jews to wear during the WWII occupation of the Netherlands.
School Director Hielke ter Veld said the vests are simply meant to identify those who can smoke from the rest of the pupils.
Ter Veld hopes the measure will also discourage smoking and vaping among students. “Most pupils won’t want to ask permission from their parents and wear the vest,” she said. “They will smoke less and that will hopefully become part of the school culture. If we only get a few pupils to stop smoking then it’s worth it.”
November 7, 2024
Tobacco Stocks Rally

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Tobacco stocks rose in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, reports The Wall Street Journal.
BAT stocks were up 4 percent this morning; its Reynolds American subsidiary was a large donor to the Make America Great Again action committee, which supported the former president’s bid for reelection. Reynolds has been pushing back against the Biden administration’s proposed menthol ban, which was delayed earlier this year. Under another Trump administration, it is likely that a menthol ban would be completely dismantled.
BAT, Altria and Imperial Brands all have sizable U.S. menthol businesses as the products make up more than a third of the U.S. cigarette market by volume.
Another Trump administration may also lead to a crackdown on illicit imports of disposable vapes, which primarily come from China. During his first term as president, Trump enthusiastically erected barriers to Chinese imports Such measures could boost some tobacco companies’ e-cigarette brands.
Expectations that a Trump presidency will strengthen the dollar, however, could be troublesome for Philip Morris International as the multinational makes around 90 percent of sales in other, primarily emerging market, currencies. A possible increase in inflation could also harm tobacco stocks since they are heavily exposed to price-sensitive, low-income consumers.
November 6, 2024
EU Tobacco Strategy Failing: Critics

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Restrictive policies on safer nicotine alternatives are hindering progress in the EU’s battle against smoking, according to Smoke Free Sweden.
A recent analysis by the group revealed that, at current rates, the EU will not meet its “smoke free” target for another 76 years.
Smoke Free Sweden contrasts the situation in Sweden, where regulatory accommodation of a lower-risk nicotine products—snus—has led to record-low smoking rates, with that in the remainder of the EU, where snus is banned and regulators have cracked down on other alternative products, such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products.
According to Smoke Free Sweden, widespread resistance to safer alternatives in other nations has pushed the EU’s average smoking rate five times higher than Sweden’s.
“It is time for the EU to recognize that restrictive policies on safer nicotine alternatives are costing lives,” said Delon Human, lead author of the report Missing The Target in a statement.
“The data clearly show that countries prioritizing harm reduction are achieving the smoke free goals that remain a distant dream for other member states. Only by embracing safer alternatives can the EU hope to reverse the current trends, save lives and achieve its long-awaited smoke free goal.”

The data clearly show that countries prioritizing harm reduction are achieving the smoke free goals that remain a distant dream for other member states.
Delon Human, lead author, Missing the Target
According to Smoke Free Sweden, Missing The Target uncovers fundamental flaws in the EU’s approach to achieving its goal of a 5 percent smoking rate by 2040. The 5 percent rate is the internationally recognized benchmark for “smoke free” status.
At its current rate, EU smoking prevalence is projected to drop below 5 percent by 2100, the report found.
What’s more, in nations with severe restrictions on safer nicotine alternatives, cigarette smoking has not only persisted but, in some cases, increased. Estonia, where vape flavors are banned, has seen a staggering 38.89 percent rise in smoking—evidence, according to Smoke Free Sweden, that restrictive policies may be backfiring dramatically.
By contrast, Sweden is on the brink of achieving its smoke-free target 16 years ahead of the EU’s goal. The key to its success, according to Smoke Free Sweden, lies in making safer nicotine alternatives accessible, acceptable and affordable. The widespread availability of alternatives such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes has driven smoking rates down to near smoke-free levels.
Likewise, Czechia’s embrace of tobacco harm reduction (THR) principles has contributed to a 23 percent drop in smoking rates over the past four years, Missing the Target points out.
“The EU’s current tobacco control policy—relying heavily on taxation, smoking bans and product regulations—has produced only incremental reductions in smoking,” said report co-author Anders Milton, a physician and former president of the Swedish Medical Association.
“A growing body of evidence points to the need for a modernized, evidence-based framework that embraces safer alternatives as part of a comprehensive THR strategy.”
November 6, 2024
U.K. Tobacco and Vapes Bill Introduced

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The U.K. government will introduce its Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Parliament today. The legislation involves some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules, including a measure banning younger people from smoking. However, the government abandoned plans for a ban on smoking outside pubs and cafes after concerns were raised about the impact on the hospitality industry.
The proposed legislation gives the government power to ban smoking outside specific outdoor spaces such as children’s playgrounds, schools and hospitals. But the plans will be subject to consultation.
The previous government had announced similar measures to create the first smoke-free generation. However, those plans failed to become law before the general election in the summer when the party lost power.
The new legislation ensures that anyone aged 15 this year, or younger, will be banned from buying cigarettes and aims to make vapes less appealing to children.
“This government is taking bold action to create the first smoke-free generation, clamp down on kids getting hooked on nicotine through vapes, and protect children and vulnerable people from the harms of secondhand smoke,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting in a statement.
Britain banned smoking in almost all enclosed public spaces, including bars and workplaces, in 2007.
Cancer Research U.K. said this led to an estimated 1.9 million fewer smokers, and research in the British Medical Journal estimated there were 1,200 fewer hospital admissions for heart attacks the following year.

Creating a two-tier society in which some adults are permitted to buy tobacco and others aren’t discriminates against younger adults.
Simon Clark, director, Forest
While welcoming the decision to drop a proposed ban on smoking outside pubs and other other hospitality venues, smokers’ lobby group Forest said it was concerned by other measures in the bill.
“Banning smoking outside hospitals is heartless and cruel,” said Forest Director Simon Clark. “Smoking in the open air poses no risk to nonsmokers, including children, but it can be a comfort to patients, visitors and staff who smoke and want a quiet stress-free moment.”
Meanwhile, increasing the age of sale by one year every year, as proposed on the generational tobacco ban part of the bill, would infantilize future generations of adults, according to Forest.
“If you can buy alcohol, drive a car, join the army and vote at 18, you should also be allowed to purchase tobacco,” said Clark.
“Creating a two-tier society in which some adults are permitted to buy tobacco and others aren’t discriminates against younger adults.
“It will cause huge confusion in shops and could lead to even more retail crime.
“It will also drive younger adults to the black market and into the arms of criminal gangs.”
November 5, 2024
Malaysia Urged to Reconsider Display Ban

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The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) is urging the ministry of health to reconsider the vape display ban introduced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
According to the MVA, the display ban not only limits consumers’ right to make informed decisions but also places unnecessary restrictions on access to crucial product information.
“The display ban for vape creates significant obstacles for adult consumers seeking to make fact-based choices about the products they use. By preventing users from browsing or viewing product options at the point of sale, the ban directly impacts consumers’ ability to access key information and data about product quality, nicotine content and flavor profiles—all critical factors in making informed purchasing decisions,” said MVA President Khairil Azizi Khairuddin.
“Beyond the practical limitations, by forcing vape products out of sight, the ban sends a stigmatizing message, implying that vape is socially unacceptable. This could deter smokers from making the switch to vape, leaving them feeling ashamed for even considering a less harmful alternative to smoking. It is demoralizing for those who are genuinely seeking a way to quit smoking, and it further isolates them from the harm reduction support they need.”

Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark.
Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, president, Malaysian Vapers Alliance
Banning product retail displays at retail outlets goes against basic consumer rights, the MVA believes.
“Informed choice is a cornerstone of consumer rights. Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark, unable to get the information they need to make choices.”
To this end, the MVA urges the ministry of health to reconsider this element of Act 852 and remove the vape display ban.
“There are many adult vape users in Malaysia who have transitioned away from smoking. Our 2023 survey found 73.7 percent of vape users in Malaysia are former smokers. In fact, 80.1 percent of respondents had switched to vaping as a means to quit smoking. These statistics share a realistic view of the use case for vape. Restricting consumer access to product information counteracts harm reduction efforts, which seek to provide smokers with less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”
“We are calling on the MoH [ministry of health] to remove the vape display ban from Act 852 and ensure that consumer rights are protected. Transparency and informed decision-making are key to the success of harm reduction strategies in Malaysia,” Khairil concluded.
November 5, 2024
Researchers Alarmed About Midwakh Smoking

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Health activists in the Middle East are calling for strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives following a University of Sharjah study detailing the health problems associated with traditional Midwakh.
Midwakh comprises a smoking pipe of Arabian origin and a mixture of tobacco from Iran. It is prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The Iranian element is represented in an imported sifted loose tobacco mixture locally known as dokha or dizziness that contains bark herbs and aromatic leaves.
“Midwakh smoking is deeply ingrained in UAE tradition but poses significant adverse health outcomes and nicotine dependency,” the scientists write in their paper, which was published in the European Journal of Public Health.
Compared to shisha pipe smoking, another Middle Eastern traditional smoking practice, which has migrated to many western countries, Midwakh is more intense and stronger.
Basema Saddik, the study’s lead author, noted that while global smoking rates were declining, the Middle East faced unique challenges. “Population growth and a younger demographic in the Middle East are leading to sustained high numbers of smokers despite global declines in smoking prevalence,” he said in a statement.
“This is particularly critical for the UAE, where vaping, shisha, Midwakh and other alternative tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular among youth, potentially leading to significant health issues later.”
Although the results of the study are confined to data collected in the UAE, Saddik said the findings were bound to reverberate in countries where Midwakh is common among smoking populations.
“While the scope of this study is regional, its implications are significant and timely, especially as we continue to address nicotine dependence trends in this population.”
The research’s data collection included surveys featuring the “hooked on nicotine checklist,” clinical measurements and pre/post-smoking saliva samples. The scientists note that “Midwakh smoking adversely affects clinical measurements, with early start correlating with higher nicotine dependency, worsened by using multiple tobacco products.”
Saddik said the study’s findings showed that Midwakh users “often develop early signs of nicotine dependence and reported various clinical issues, including elevated carbon monoxide and cotinine levels, which are indicators of harmful tobacco exposure.”
The study reported that 33 percent of Midwakh smokers were under 21 years old, 68 percent had below undergraduate education and monthly household incomes over AED15,000 ($4,000). Smoking initiation was as early as 10 years old.
Smoking habits revealed 37 percent exclusive Midwakh use, 54 percent Midwakh with e-cigarettes, 21 percent with shisha and 34 percent with cigarettes. Post-smoking clinical measurements showed significant increases in blood pressure, heart, pulse and respiratory rates and carbon monoxide levels, according to the authors.
Saddik attributed the widespread use of Midwakh in Arabia and specifically in the UAE to smokers mistakenly believing that the herbs and aromatic leaves in the tobacco make it safer or less harmful than other cigarettes, leading to higher rates of initiation and dependence.
Research shows that a Midwakh smoking session, in terms of nicotine intake, can be the equivalent of smoking up to 10 cigarettes, with higher nicotine and tar levels. The diseases associated with Midwakh smoking are similar to those caused by cigarette smoking, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Clinical assessments also revealed negative health indicators, including elevated carbon monoxide levels, which suggest that without intervention, a large portion of the UAE’s youth could face severe long-term health consequences,” said Saddik.
“Addressing these issues now with targeted prevention programs and regulations on alternative tobacco products is essential to change these projected outcomes.”
Saddik described the findings of the study as “a wake-up call” for policymakers in the UAE and other countries with Midwakh smokers to implement “strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives, particularly aimed at youth.”
November 5, 2024
Finland to Hike Tobacco Taxes

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Finland will increase tobacco taxes by nearly 30 percent between now and 2027, reports Yle News.
The raises will take place in six increments and eventually drive the price of a pack of cigarettes above €13 ($14.16). Tobacco taxes will be raised twice a year until July 2027, for a total increase of 27.1 percent.
The government aims to earn around €100 million from the tobacco tax increases.
The tax increases will apply to cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos. However, nicotine pouches and e-cigarette liquids will not be affected by these hikes.
After the increases, a pack of cigarettes will cost an average of around €13.20.
November 4, 2024