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  • Survey: UK Vape Bill Threatens Corner Shops

    Survey: UK Vape Bill Threatens Corner Shops

    A survey of 500 UK corner shops revealed that one in 10 owners would consider closing their business if the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is enacted. The survey, commissioned by retailer platform C-Talk, found that 79% of shop owners view the Bill as an unprecedented threat, with 35% planning to reduce staff hours or lay off employees, and 26% considering price hikes to offset losses.

    The legislation, which returned to Parliament earlier this week, proposes banning tobacco sales for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and restricting e-cigarette marketing, packaging, and flavors. Retailers warn these measures could push consumers toward the black market.

    In response, C-Talk founder Paul Cheema delivered 1,435 letters from concerned shop owners directly to Business Secretary Peter Kyle, urging the government to consider the impact on local businesses and jobs.

  • NZ Faces Rising Illicit Tobacco Trade

    NZ Faces Rising Illicit Tobacco Trade

    More than one in four cigarettes consumed in New Zealand came from the illicit market last year, according to a new independent report commissioned by Imperial Brands and BAT New Zealand. The study found that 27% of total tobacco consumption was illegal, up from 23.6% the previous year, resulting in lost excise revenue estimated at over NZ$600 million ($348 million). The rise is largely driven by a 41.9% increase in smuggled, contraband cigarettes.

    Industry representatives warned that without decisive intervention, New Zealand risks facing the same challenges seen in Australia, where delayed responses allowed illicit trade to flourish post-COVID. “The report shows New Zealand’s illicit tobacco trade continues to escalate,” said an Imperial Brands spokesperson. “It would be a mistake to assume the violence and criminal networks associated with an uncontrolled illicit market couldn’t happen here.”

    BAT New Zealand echoed the call for immediate action, highlighting the importance of proactive measures. “Australia presents a cautionary tale of how quickly illicit tobacco can take hold,” a BATNZ spokesperson said. “New Zealand has the opportunity to act now to prevent the exponential growth of illegal tobacco and protect both public health and government revenue.”

    Read the full report here.

  • BAT Launches €1.2 Billion Hybrid Capital Securities Issue

    BAT Launches €1.2 Billion Hybrid Capital Securities Issue

    Today (October 28), BAT announced the publication of a prospectus for a €1.2 billion dual-tranche hybrid capital securities offering. The issue comprises a €600 million perpetual non-call 5.25-year security (NC5.25) with a 4.20% initial coupon, and a €600 million perpetual non-call 8-year security (NC8) with a 4.75% initial coupon. The securities are subordinate to all senior creditors and will be accounted as equity under IFRS standards, receiving 50% equity credit from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch.

    Proceeds from the issuance will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase of the company’s outstanding Perpetual Subordinated NC 2026 Securities, which began with a tender offer on October 21, and the repayment of existing debt. The first call dates for the securities are October 20, 2030 to January 30, 2031, for the NC5.25 tranche and July 30, 2033 to October 30, 2033, for the NC8 tranche.

    Settlement is expected on October 30, 2025, with both tranches to be listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The prospectus has been approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and is available online via the London Stock Exchange here and the National Storage Mechanism here.

  • Black Buffalo’s Boss Honored with Goldman Sachs Award

    Black Buffalo’s Boss Honored with Goldman Sachs Award

    Black Buffalo co-founder and president Mark Hanson was honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025 at its Builders and Innovators Summit. The recognition follows Black Buffalo’s national retail expansion, growth of its “Herd Rewards” loyalty program, and continued investment in R&D and compliance serving adult nicotine consumers. “This award is a reflection of the Black Buffalo team’s tireless dedication to excellence, foundational commitment to compliance, and relentless pursuit to deliver innovative products to our adult consumers,” Hanson said. The Summit, now in its 14th year, brings together founders and CEOs of hypergrowth companies to share insights and advance business leadership.

  • Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Each year since 2012, October 28 has been celebrated as World Tobacco Growers’ Day (WTGD), the date when Europeans reportedly first observed tobacco as Christopher Columbus arrived at the island that is now the Dominican Republic. Founded by the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA), the day is meant “to celebrate the legitimacy and dignity of the work carried out by millions of tobacco growers around the world.”

    “Since its establishment, World Tobacco Growers’ Day has been celebrated across many countries, honoring the dedication and contribution of farming communities,” the ITGA says. “In several nations, the day has even been formally institutionalized, becoming a proud annual tradition that recognizes the economic, cultural, and social importance of tobacco growers. A global day to honor those who cultivate the land and preserve a living heritage.

    “WTGD shines a light on the cultural, historical, and socio-economic legacy of tobacco growing — a livelihood that has shaped generations and sustained rural communities for centuries. Tobacco growers work in a legal and regulated market, and this day is about giving dignity and recognition to their honest labor and enduring contribution to the global agricultural landscape.”

  • ITGA Demands Inclusion Ahead of WHO COP11

    ITGA Demands Inclusion Ahead of WHO COP11

    On World Tobacco Growers’ Day, global tobacco farmers raised concerns over their continued exclusion from international policymaking, calling for transparency and inclusion ahead of next month’s WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP11) in Geneva. International Tobacco Growers’ Association president José Javier Aranda sent a letter saying the FCTC process has become increasingly opaque, with decisions made behind closed doors and little agricultural representation—fewer than 5% of delegates have expertise in farming. He warned that measures discussed at COP11 could impact millions of livelihoods across tobacco-producing nations.

    “We understand the concerns about the negative impact of tobacco consumption, and we support policies that are genuinely aimed at reducing harm,” Aranda said. “But what we cannot understand is why tobacco growers and their representatives are given such a fundamentally different treatment compared to other sectors.

    “As representatives of tobacco growers, we cannot remain silent. We raise our voice today to condemn this misconduct of the WHO FCTC Secretariat. Our governments must stand with us. I have already sent a letter to the WHO and the WHO FCTC, calling for transparency and inclusion. We expect to be heard.”

  • Thailand Looks to Overhaul Tobacco Law Against E-Cigarette Surge

    Thailand Looks to Overhaul Tobacco Law Against E-Cigarette Surge

    Thailand’s Cabinet ordered an urgent amendment to the Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017) to address “the rapid spread of e-cigarette use, particularly among young people.” Official data show the number of Thai e-cigarette users aged 15 and above has surged from 78,000 in 2021 to more than 400,000 in 2024.

    Deputy government spokesperson Airin Phanrit said the Cabinet endorsed recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission, assigning the Ministry of Public Health to lead the drafting process. The overhaul aims to regulate the production, import, sale, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products—both online and offline.

    Authorities plan a public awareness campaign on vaping risks, stricter controls to prevent youth marketing, and stronger implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 to limit tobacco industry influence. A full report on the proposed reforms is expected within 30 days.

  • “Good COP” to Parallel WHO’s COP11

    “Good COP” to Parallel WHO’s COP11

    The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) announced the launch of “Conference of the People (Good COP)” to be held November 19 in Geneva, parallel to the World Health Organization’s COP11. Good COP will be a “rapid-response and fact-checking forum” to counter discussions from the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

    The event aims to unite taxpayer-, free-market-, and harm-reduction organizations to challenge misinformation and present alternative, evidence-based perspectives. It is intended to be an open forum for consumers, independent scientists, and journalists who are often excluded from WHO’s closed-door sessions.

    “Currently, there is no cohesive, organized message to balance the misinformation stemming from the WHO and institutions under the auspices of the FCTC,” the TPA said in a press release. “Each day of the conference, experts and consumers will gather to respond in real-time to COP proceedings and hear from sponsoring organizations who will set the agenda for their respective day.”

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) also announced today (October 27) that it will hold “Asia Day – The Good Cop 2.0,” in conjunction with the TPA event. “Asia Pacific cannot afford another decade of ‘quit or die’ policies,” said Clarisse Virgino, CAPHRA’s Philippines representative. “We’ve seen harm reduction save lives in HIV, alcohol, and drug policy — denying it for tobacco is both unscientific and unethical.”

    “Asia Day will not be about slogans or ideology — it’s about dialogue, data, and human rights,” said Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA’s Executive Coordinator.

  • CTFK Boss Says Global Playbook Weakening Public Health

    CTFK Boss Says Global Playbook Weakening Public Health

    Political positioning continues in advance of next month’s Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) in Geneva, with Yolonda C. Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, accusing the tobacco industry of deploying a “global playbook” to weaken public health commitments, particularly focusing on the Caribbean nations of Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. In a press release, Tobacco-Free Kids said it joined other anti-tobacco organizations in sending a letter to the governments of Saint Kitts and Nevis expressing concern “about the need to safeguard public health policymaking from the influence of the tobacco industry.” The letter was sent because it said at COP10 in Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, “raised serious alarm” by taking positions “closely mirroring industry talking points.”

    “Governments must remember one truth:” Richardson wrote. “The tobacco industry is the architect of the global tobacco epidemic which kills more than 8 million people each year. Big Tobacco’s presence is toxic to rational, evidence-based policymaking. Governments must shut the door on tobacco industry interference and stand united to protect kids from a lifetime of addiction.”

  • India to Use Cess, Not Tax, to Keep Tobacco Revenue Flowing

    India to Use Cess, Not Tax, to Keep Tobacco Revenue Flowing

    India’s central government is considering an additional cess (levy) on tobacco products such as cigarettes, gutkha, and chewing tobacco to sustain current tax revenues from these “sin goods” without altering the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, Moneycontrol reported. The move comes as the compensation cess regime under GST 2.0 is being phased out on products including tobacco and pan masala.

    The Centre reportedly intends to maintain the existing tax incidence through a separate central levy, ensuring states do not lose revenue once the cess mechanism expires. With consumption recovering and sin goods already in the 40% GST bracket, the Centre reportedly does not foresee a significant drop in state collections, opting instead for fiscal measures outside the GST framework to preserve inflows from tobacco and related products.

    Currently, tobacco products attract 28% GST plus a cess, bringing the effective tax burden to between 52% and 88%, among the highest for any consumer product. The GST Council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has kept this structure in place until at least the end of 2025, when the remaining liabilities under the pandemic-era compensation loan scheme are cleared. Industry observers say the proposed new levy would effectively extend the current tax burden beyond the cess period, maintaining both revenue stability for states and fiscal pressure on tobacco manufacturers.