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  • Scientist reveals nail salons are worse than “second-hand vaping”

    Scientist reveals nail salons are worse than “second-hand vaping”

    Public confusion should not drive vape policy, says Dr Marina Murphy

    As the UK government considers extending smoke-free legislation to create new vape-free areas in England, experts are warning that vaping policy must be based on evidence—not public misunderstanding.

    Proposals to restrict vaping in areas such as playgrounds, school grounds and outside hospitals are intended to protect the public from second-hand exposure. However, the scientific evidence does not support treating vaping like smoking.

    Here, Dr. Marina Murphy, Director of Scientific Affairs at Northerner, sets out the current scientific understanding of “second-hand vaping” and highlights the need for policy to be based on evidence.

    Is there such a thing as second-hand vapour?

    While often described as “second-hand vapour,” passive exposure to vape aerosol is not comparable to second-hand smoke. Vapes do not contain tobacco, involve no combustion, and produce no side-stream smoke, which is the smoke produced when a cigarette is not being actively smoked, the primary source of harmful passive smoking exposure. 

    UK health authorities, including the NHS and Cancer Research UK, state there is no good evidence that passive vaping is harmful to bystanders.

    What do the public think about second-hand vaping?

    New research commissioned by Northerner highlights widespread public misunderstanding about vaping and health risks. The survey found that 43% of respondents believe exposure to vape aerosol is as harmful as exposure to cigarette smoke, despite this not being supported by the evidence. Only 32% correctly identified the statement as false, while 25% were unsure.

    Almost half (46%) also incorrectly believe vaping involves exposure to more chemicals than smoking. These findings suggest public perceptions are increasingly out of step with the evidence.

    Is secondhand vaping harmful?

    When we talk about public exposure, it’s important to keep the science in perspective. Exhaled vape aerosol generally raises PM₂.₅ levels only slightly above background levels, often in the 1–10 µg/m³ range, and contains no carbon monoxide because there is no combustion. To put this into perspective, many everyday environments generate far higher air-quality impacts:

    • Frying or gas cooking can produce particulate matter₂.₅ peaks above 500 µg/m³
    • Nail salons and beauty products can push particulate levels above 200 µg/m³
    • Urban roadside pollution often ranges 10–50 µg/m³

    Does vaping expose users to more chemicals than smoking?

    No. Cigarette smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals, many of them toxic or carcinogenic. Vape aerosol contains significantly fewer harmful substances and is widely recognised as substantially less harmful than smoking. Claims that vaping exposes users to more chemicals than cigarettes are simply false.

    Should vaping be banned outdoors?

    There is no clear evidence-based justification for broad outdoor vaping bans. Vaping is widely recognised as a lower-risk alternative to smoking and remains one of the most effective tools available to help adults quit cigarettes. Treating vaping like smoking risks sending the wrong message to smokers. If policymakers blur the distinction between the two, they risk reinforcing misinformation, discouraging switching, and undermining tobacco harm reduction. The evidence is clear: vaping is not smoking, and regulating it as though it were is neither scientific nor proportionate.

  • Survey Finds Widespread Confusion Over Nicotine Risks

    Survey Finds Widespread Confusion Over Nicotine Risks

    A survey of 1,973 U.S. adults commissioned by Haypp Group, parent of Nicokick.com and Northerner, found most respondents do not distinguish between the health risks of cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine products. According to the Nicotine Product Harm Perception Report 2026, 73% said vaping is as harmful as, or more harmful than, smoking; 60.6% said the same of nicotine pouches, and 64.9% incorrectly believed nicotine causes cancer.

    While 68.9% of respondents said they feel informed about nicotine risks, many answers conflicted with established evidence that combustion, not nicotine, is the primary cause of smoking-related disease. The survey also found that younger adults perceive smoking as more culturally visible, with 36.3% of those aged 25–34 saying smoking is “back in fashion,” even as U.S. smoking rates have fallen to about 9.9% in 2024.

  • WHO’s Report on Nicotine Pouches Draws Industry Response

    WHO’s Report on Nicotine Pouches Draws Industry Response

    Today (May 15), the World Health Organization released its first global report on nicotine pouches, warning that rapid market growth and uneven regulation could increase youth exposure to nicotine. The report, issued ahead of World No Tobacco Day, says sales exceeded 23 billion units in 2024 and values the category at nearly $7 billion in 2025. WHO said, “nicotine itself is highly addictive and harmful,” and accused companies of using “widespread industry tactics” to appeal to younger audiences, and outlined policy options for governments, including limits on flavors and nicotine strength, age-verification requirements, advertising restrictions, and clearer labeling for the oral nicotine products.

    In response, Dr. Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp, said the report does not sufficiently distinguish between combustible tobacco and lower-risk nicotine formats. She pointed to regulatory approaches in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Sweden as examples in which authorities have set product standards, age controls, and manufacturing requirements while allowing adult access. Murphy cited toxicological comparisons to nicotine replacement therapies and population data suggesting most pouch users are current or former smokers, arguing that regulatory frameworks can address youth concerns while preserving alternatives for adults.

    “The WHO should be leading a science-based strategy to end smoking. Instead, it remains ideologically opposed to the very products helping make that goal achievable,” Murphy said. “The lesson is straightforward. Countries that follow the evidence are accelerating the decline of smoking and reducing disease.

    “Those who treat all nicotine products as equally problematic risk protecting cigarettes from competition. The WHO should be helping governments distinguish between products that kill and products that can help people move away from smoking. Until the WHO embraces this reality, its reports will look increasingly detached from both the science and the real-world policy successes unfolding around it.”

  • Haypp Resumes Sales in Alabama

    Haypp Resumes Sales in Alabama

    Haypp Group announced that it has resumed operations in Alabama, expanding access to nicotine pouch products for verified adult consumers as part of its broader U.S. growth strategy. The company said its platforms, Nicokick and Northerner, will offer more than 300 products in the state through direct-to-consumer delivery, particularly targeting areas with limited retail availability.

    Haypp emphasized that its return to the Alabama market will operate under strict compliance standards, including robust age and identity verification to ensure sales are restricted to adults 21 and over. The move reinforces the company’s focus on regulated online distribution channels as it continues to expand its presence in the U.S. nicotine market.

    In June 2025, Alabama enacted major changes to its vape and alternative nicotine laws, prompting many companies in the industry to pause sales as parts were clarified and enforcement evolved to ensure compliance.

  • Report: Misconceptions Hurting Alternative Nicotine Products

    Report: Misconceptions Hurting Alternative Nicotine Products

    A new report highlights growing public misperceptions about nicotine products, with 59% believing that vaping is as harmful to health as smoking, a number that increases to 72% among 18–24-year-olds. The “Nicotine Product Harm Perception Report 2026,” released by Northerner and Haypp, surveyed 2,000 people in the UK, with nearly half believing vaping exposes users to more chemicals than cigarettes, and 60% registering as misinformed or uninformed when comparing nicotine pouches’ harm to smoking.

    The findings point to a shift in risk perception that contrasts with established public health messaging on relative harm. The report links these beliefs to broader narratives around a perceived “vape epidemic,” with 78% of respondents agreeing such an epidemic exists despite vaping prevalence estimated at around 10% of adults. This disconnect suggests that public understanding may be shaped more by media framing and social discourse than by underlying usage data.

    The report also cites inconsistent policy approaches and negative coverage as contributing factors to mixed public messaging around vaping and harm reduction. Experts warn that confusion over relative risks could affect smoking behavior. Dr. Marina Murphy, the senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp Group, said misperceptions may reduce incentives for smokers to switch to alternatives, potentially slowing or reversing declines in smoking rates.

     “Alarmist messaging and negative framing risk doing real damage,” Murphy said. “If smokers are put off switching, we risk undoing years of progress in reducing smoking rates. People need clear, balanced information about nicotine products so they can make informed choices.” 

  • Nicokick Urges Clarity on Smoke-Free Information

    Nicokick Urges Clarity on Smoke-Free Information

    Nicokick.com, owned by Haypp Group, called on policymakers and health professionals to provide clearer, evidence-based information distinguishing the risks of combustible cigarettes from non-combusted nicotine products. The appeal follows a report by the Foundation for American Innovation highlighting high tobacco and nicotine use among U.S. servicemembers and recommending that institutions recognize differences between product types when addressing health and readiness. Nicokick cited the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recognition of a “continuum of risk” across tobacco products and said improved adult-focused communication could help consumers and healthcare professionals better understand these distinctions while reinforcing that smoke-free products are intended only for existing adult users.

  • 20mg of Nicotine Per Pouch Optimal, Expert Says

    20mg of Nicotine Per Pouch Optimal, Expert Says

    Haypp’s senior director of scientific affairs, Dr. Marina Murphy, touts the benefits of nicotine pouches as an alternative to smoking, and recommends a maximum nicotine strength of 20mg per pouch to ensure these products serve as an effective harm-reduction tool. This recommendation comes as U.K. lawmakers continue to navigate progress toward a smoke-free future, with pouches growing in popularity. The 20mg dosage, Murphy says, provides an experience comparable to a cigarette, encouraging adult smokers to switch while avoiding the risks associated with ultra-strong products — some that reach 150mg per pouch.

    The 20mg limit aligns with Swedish and British industry standards and sets a clear, understandable benchmark for consumers and retailers, she says. Murphy says that by incorporating this limit into U.K. regulations, the government can make nicotine pouches a viable, safer alternative to cigarettes, balancing public health objectives with adult consumer choice, and supporting the country’s broader smoke-free goals.

  • FDA Releases Raw NYTS Data Without Comment

    FDA Releases Raw NYTS Data Without Comment

    Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the raw data from the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), an annual, school-based survey that collects data on tobacco use among students in grades 6 through 12 across the country. Unlike previous years, the FDA released the data without comment, leaving industry members to interpret it independently.

    The survey tracks students’ tobacco behaviors, attitudes, and exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco messaging, providing nationally representative data. First conducted in 1999, it has guided youth tobacco policy and was jointly run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2012, before moving fully under FDA oversight in 2025. 

    “Youth use of tobacco and nicotine has been the FDA’s sole focus in its policy and decision making for so many years, with adult education programs centered on the risk continuum of these products seemingly still far off,” said Laura Leigh Oyler, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Nicokick.com. “It’s been a big question throughout the industry as to why they’ve chosen to release this data with no fanfare, and with no guidance on how to interpret it. The FDA has essentially left the industry and other stakeholders to analyze and determine the use rates on their own.”

    Altria Client Services released a “high-level” summary of the data, finding overall tobacco usage by middle and high school students declined for the third straight year, dropping to 7.5%, the lowest rate since the study became annual in 2011, and down from the all-time high of 23.3% in 2019.

    Cigarette usage remained steady at 1.4%, while all other categories dropped from 2024, with e-cigarettes going from 5.9% to 5.2%, pouches from 1.8% to 1.7%, smokeless tobacco going from 1.2% to 0.6%, and heated tobacco products going from 0.8% to 0.7%.

    “With the continued low youth use rates, we think this is something worth celebrating,” Oyler said. “The data shows that targeted public‑health interventions, combined with thoughtful regulation like raising the legal age for nicotine purchases, can make a meaningful difference.”

    “The law is clear: tobacco and nicotine products are strictly for adults 21 and older,” said Matthew T. Sheaff, director of U.S. regulatory communications for Philip Morris International. “At PMI U.S., we are committed to guarding against underage access to our products, while continuing to provide adults 21 and older with better alternatives to smoking and traditional tobacco.

    “For example, we direct our marketing to adult nicotine consumers and do not pay social media influencers to endorse our products in the U.S. This is a shared responsibility—regulators, policymakers, retailers, and manufacturers all have an important role to play.”

    With the news generally positive in terms of youth usage, Oyler suggested emphasis be given to adults 55 and older, whose smoking rates have remained mostly steady, dropping from 18.7% in 2016 to 16.7% in 2023.

    “If anything, this data raises questions less about youth access and more about what we can do to educate adults on the differences between nicotine and tobacco products, and how they can reduce their risk,” Oyler said. “This is the population most at risk of smoking-related disease. This is the population with the most to gain from moving away from cigarettes. And this is the population that has been historically underserved by cessation efforts and innovation.

    “To drive the next major improvement in public health, we must accelerate support for adults who smoke and ensure that they have access to better alternatives, and ultimately, better outcomes.”

  • Haypp Launches Caffeine Pouches

    Haypp Launches Caffeine Pouches

    Haypp Group expanded its product lineup with the launch of caffeine pouches across its online retail platforms, adding a new category to its nicotine-free offerings. The company said the products — available across its websites in the U.K. and Scandinavian markets — are designed to provide consumers with a discreet, portable way to manage caffeine intake without drinks or preparation, with a range of strengths and flavors.

    Haypp said the move reflects growing demand for functional wellness and on-the-go products, particularly among professionals and fitness-focused consumers seeking convenient alternatives to coffee or energy drinks. The retailer expects the addition to strengthen its position in the expanding oral pouch segment and plans to promote the launch through a U.K. tour featuring a mobile sampling truck.

    On Jan. 1, Haypp exited the UK’s vape and heated tobacco markets to focus exclusively on oral pouches.

  • Expert-Led Campaign Looking for Flawed Vape Science

    Expert-Led Campaign Looking for Flawed Vape Science

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) launched VapeVerify, an expert-led initiative aimed at scrutinizing vaping research amid rising public misperceptions about relative risk. The independent panel — comprising specialists in toxicology, public health, addiction medicine, and regulatory science — will assess new studies for methodological flaws, data misinterpretation, and lack of transparency, with the goal of ensuring policy debates and public understanding are guided by robust evidence. The move comes as surveys show record-high levels of misinformation, with around half of smokers believing vaping is as harmful as or more harmful than combustible cigarettes.

    “The VapeVerify panel wants to create an environment where people are armed with the facts so they can make informed decisions, because there is no public health without public knowledge,” said panellist Dr. Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp Group, who specializes in chemistry and science communications.

    The campaign launches alongside VapeWatch, a media monitoring initiative designed to challenge inaccurate or alarmist reporting on vaping and refer misleading coverage to the Independent Press Standards Organization. UKVIA Director General John Dunne said the industry is at a “crossroads,” arguing that public perception will determine whether vaping fulfils its harm reduction potential. Organizers said the expert panel members are unpaid volunteers and that the twin initiatives aim to counter what they describe as flawed science and misinformation deterring adult smokers from switching.