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  • Spain Moves Toward Outdoor Smoking Ban

    Spain Moves Toward Outdoor Smoking Ban

    The Spanish government approved a draft bill that could ban smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, bus shelters, train stations, and university campuses. The legislation, still subject to parliamentary approval, would also include e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and hookahs, effectively covering all smoking and vaping devices.

    The draft bill would also prohibit the sale of single-use e-cigarettes and restrict all tobacco advertising, including sponsorships and promotions at events, aiming to reduce tobacco’s visibility and appeal, particularly among youth. Violations could result in fines of up to €600,000, and establishments would be required to acknowledge the ban with clear displays.

    The law is currently undergoing public consultation, allowing associations, companies, regional governments, and citizens to provide feedback. Following review, the bill must pass Congress and the Senate before becoming official, with final implementation expected in the coming years if approved.

  • Alaska Settles 2020 Suit with Juul, Altria for $7.8M  

    Alaska Settles 2020 Suit with Juul, Altria for $7.8M  

    The State of Alaska has reached a $5.8 million settlement with Juul over allegations that the company marketed vaping products to minors, bringing total recoveries in the case to $7.8 million, including a prior settlement with Altria. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused the companies of designing and promoting products in ways that appealed to children and teenagers.

    Under the agreement, payments from Juul will be made over five years, with the first installment due this month. Settlement terms also impose court-enforceable marketing restrictions in Alaska.

    Half of the settlement funds will support Alaska’s tobacco prevention and control programs, with the remainder directed to state consumer protection efforts.

  • China Boton Suspends Stock Trading

    China Boton Suspends Stock Trading

    Shares of China Boton Group Company Limited were temporarily suspended from trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today (December 2025), pending the release of an announcement concerning a “very substantial disposal” under listing rules. The company said the halt is required to comply with disclosure obligations and will remain in place until further notice. Details of the proposed transaction have not yet been disclosed.

    The announcement came from board chairman Wang Mingfan, who said further information will be published once the transaction announcement is ready. Boton is one of China’s largest extract and fragrance companies, and supplies flavorings for the global tobacco and nicotine sector.

  • Cannabis Co. Countersues Competitor for AI-Fabricated Extortion

    Cannabis Co. Countersues Competitor for AI-Fabricated Extortion

    Leafwell Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against fellow medical marijuana company My Florida Green, alleging its competitor used artificial intelligence to fabricate legal claims as part of an extortion scheme designed to damage Leafwell’s business. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida last week.

    According to the complaint, My Florida Green allegedly filed a factually and legally deficient lawsuit in September, accusing Leafwell of unlawful business practices, then used the litigation to pressure the company to settle the lawsuit, scare off business partners, and otherwise harm Leafwell’s operations. Leafwell claims the filings were AI-generated and lacked proper factual and legal grounding.

    According to Justia Law, the court is scrutinizing the original filings, highlighting the growing business and legal risks tied to the misuse of AI in litigation and competitive disputes, particularly in highly regulated sectors like medical cannabis.

  • BAT Completes $420M Block Trade of ITC Hotel Shares

    BAT Completes $420M Block Trade of ITC Hotel Shares

    On December 4, British American Tobacco announced that its subsidiaries planned to sell between 7% and 15.3% of their shares in ITC Hotels through an accelerated bookbuild, with the exact number of shares to be determined by optimal pricing. Proceeds from the sale, CEO Tadeu Marroco said, would help BAT move toward its “target 2–2.5x net debt/EBITDA leverage” by the end of 2026.

    On December 5, the trade was completed, with 187.5 million ordinary shares going to investors by way of an accelerated bookbuild process. The Block Trade Shares represent 9% of ITC Hotels’ issued ordinary share capital, and amounted to INR 38.2 bn ($420 million). Following the trade, BAT still retains a 6.3% holding in ITC Hotels.

    Established in 1975, the business of ITC Hotels has grown to encompass over 140 hotels across more than 90 destinations in the Indian subcontinent.

  • CAA Elects Terry Gallagher as New Chairman

    CAA Elects Terry Gallagher as New Chairman

    The Cigar Association of America (CAA) announced that Terry Gallagher, Jr., president of Smoker Friendly tobacco outlets, has been elected chairman of the association, succeeding Javier Estades. Gallagher, Jr. brings decades of experience in the premium cigar and tobacco sectors and assumes leadership as the association continues its advocacy and industry-support efforts.

    CAA president Scott Pearce praised Estades for his nine years of service, during which the association strengthened federal and state advocacy, expanded policymaker engagement, and became a leading voice on tobacco issues. Estades will remain on the Board.

    The Board also elected new officers: Eric Newman (Vice Chair), Carrie Freed (Treasurer), and Henry Roemer (Secretary). Gallagher, Jr. emphasized collaboration with the leadership team to advance cigar-specific regulation, protect adult consumers, and preserve the heritage of premium cigars.

  • SKE Launches 15K Puff Vape in UK

    SKE Launches 15K Puff Vape in UK

    SKE introduced its first 15,000-puff device, the SKE BAR 15K, to the UK market, aiming to drive soaring sales amid rising demand for refillable products. The launch follows the success of SKE’s 6,000-puff model, SKE CL6000, which the company said has sold tens of millions of units globally.

    The rechargeable 15K device “features a 2ml pod and 10ml e-liquid container, 16 popular flavors, a long-lasting 48-hour battery, transparent pods for monitoring e-liquid, and a smart display for user convenience.” Retailing at £12.99, with a 12ml refill at £7.99, one device “provides the equivalent of roughly 1,000 cigarettes, making it significantly more cost-effective than traditional packs.”

    Chris Dong, SKE Regional Sales Director, highlighted that the device helps smokers transition from disposables and conventional cigarettes while offering affordability. The rechargeable design also reduces environmental impact, with a single device lasting 1.5–5 months depending on usage.

  • Great Wall Cigar Explores Partnerships with Cuba, Morocco, Indonesia

    Great Wall Cigar Explores Partnerships with Cuba, Morocco, Indonesia

    A delegation from China Tobacco Sichuan’s Great Wall Cigar Factory recently visited the embassies of Cuba, Morocco, and Indonesia in Beijing to discuss industrial cooperation and trade expansion.

    At the Cuban embassy, talks with Minister Counsellor Igor Montero Brito focused on collaboration in tobacco breeding, processing technology, and cultural exchange. The Cuban official highlighted cigars as a national symbol comparable to China’s silk and porcelain.

    In Morocco, discussions centered on leveraging the country’s strategic location to create a regional hub for cigar processing and distribution. In Indonesia, the delegation received confirmation of a recent commercial order, reflecting growing bilateral trade. Great Wall Cigar holds about 50% of China’s handmade cigar market and nearly 70% of its high-end segment, exporting to 28 countries.

  • Philippines Seeks Feedback on Vape Advertising Permits

    Philippines Seeks Feedback on Vape Advertising Permits

    The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is inviting stakeholders and the public to comment on a draft policy introducing a mandatory permitting system for advertising and sales promotion of vape products, including devices and novel tobacco products. The proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO) requires advertisers to obtain either an Advertisement Permit or Sales Promotion Permit from the Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products before any campaign can be released.

    Under the draft DAO, campaigns must be filed at least 30 days in advance, may run for up to one year (extendable by six months), and require submission of business registration documents, campaign materials, and proof that retail stores are not within 100 meters of schools or areas frequented by minors. Fees vary by permit type, geography, and number of prizes, and amendments must be reported 14 days before release.

    The policy also introduces mandatory age-gating for online promotions to restrict access to users aged 18 and above.

  • Central America’s No. 1 Tobacco Importer, Belize Pushing for Tobacco Control

    Central America’s No. 1 Tobacco Importer, Belize Pushing for Tobacco Control

    Belize is advancing its Tobacco Control Bill 2025, with first readings complete and second and third readings scheduled next week. Dr. Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness, described the legislation as “strong” and aimed at regulating tobacco like other legal substances to protect public health.

    The bill seeks to curb tobacco use and related non-communicable diseases, drawing public support for stricter regulations similar to seatbelt or driver licensing laws.

    While reporting on the bill, 7 News Belize wrote, “while the bill is progressive, in a jarring contradiction we must note that due to the tobacco trade coming out of the northern and western free zones, Belize is the number one tobacco importer in all of Central America and it feeds cheap Chinese cigarettes into Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala through legal and illegal crossings.”