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Tag: UK

  • Ireland Reviews Tobacco Affordability

    Ireland Reviews Tobacco Affordability

    Ireland’s Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is reviewing tobacco affordability at the request of the chief medical officer, amid little change in smoking prevalence in recent years. The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland reported that smoking among people aged 15 and older remained at about 17–18% between 2019 and 2025.

    HIQA said cigarette taxation has increased the price of a 20-pack by 24% since 2020, while average weekly earnings have risen 28%, potentially making tobacco more affordable despite higher taxes. Its analysis will compare tobacco affordability in Ireland with other EU countries and the UK and assess measures including household disposable income, wage growth, and household expenditure alongside GDP.

    The review will be submitted to the Chief Medical Officer and Department of Health to inform future policy. Ireland has already raised the legal purchase age to 21, banned disposable vapes and bright flavor descriptors, and restricted self-service vending machines. The government is also considering a generational ban on tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products.

  • Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Today (August 11), the UK government announced plans to give councils greater control over high-street businesses, including requiring planning permission for new specialist vape shops and adult gaming centers. The government said the measures are intended to help communities manage the mix of businesses in town centers, address concerns about the concentration of vape and gambling outlets, and give local authorities greater powers to close premises linked to organized crime.

    The proposal has received qualified support from parts of the vaping industry, although concerns have been raised over its scope. Dr Marina Murphy, Head of External Affairs at Haypp UK, said specialist, compliant vape retailers should retain a place on high streets, arguing that a planning framework recognizing vape retail as a distinct category could support responsible businesses while giving councils more control over poorly run or non-compliant outlets. Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson similarly backed the objective but criticized the mechanism, describing planning permission as “a location test applied to a conduct problem.”

    Riot Labs and Action on Smoking and Health both noted that the proposed planning requirement would apply to new premises, meaning it would not directly address existing shops that breach regulations. Johnson is calling instead for the government to implement the retail licensing provisions contained in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which would apply to both existing and new retailers.

  • UK Vape Display Crackdown Could Cost Businesses £61M

    UK Vape Display Crackdown Could Cost Businesses £61M

    A planned UK crackdown on the display and packaging of vaping and nicotine products could cost businesses up to £61 million, according to a government impact assessment. More than 11,000 retailers, including convenience stores, supermarkets, and wholesalers, are expected to be affected by requirements to keep vape products and related items out of sight and introduce plain packaging.

    The assessment estimates that restocking and removing products could cost businesses about £48 million, while new storage units could add nearly £3 million, and staff familiarization with the new rules around £313,000. The Scottish Grocers Federation warned that additional regulation could increase costs for compliant retailers without sufficiently addressing illicit sales. The Federation of Small Businesses said it supports the public health objectives but called for measures that are proportionate and workable. The government said it believes there is a clear public health rationale for restricting the display of vaping and nicotine products.

  • Vape Group Says UK Retailers Face £330M in Losses from New Packaging Rules

    Vape Group Says UK Retailers Face £330M in Losses from New Packaging Rules

    Vaping advocacy group We Vape warned that proposed UK restrictions on the packaging, appearance, and display of vaping products could cost retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers more than £330 million while providing no proven social benefit, according to Asian Trader. Citing the government’s impact assessment, the group said the measures — including plain packaging, restrictions on device colors and flavor names, and requirements to keep vaping products out of sight in stores — would result in an estimated £328 million in lost profits and £2.8 million in compliance costs for approximately 76,000 retailers. We Vape also criticized the government’s planned £100,000 enforcement budget as inadequate and argued that stronger enforcement of existing underage sales laws would be more effective than imposing additional regulatory burdens on legitimate businesses.

  • Women Fueling UK Pouch Market Growth

    Women Fueling UK Pouch Market Growth

    A new Nicotine Pouch Report from Haypp indicates that women are becoming a major driver of growth in the UK nicotine pouch market. According to the report, the number of female customers on Haypp.com and Northerner.com more than tripled during 2025, with nicotine pouch sales to women increasing 202% compared with a 25% increase among men. Women now account for 40% of nicotine pouch sales on Haypp Group platforms, up from 22% previously, reflecting a shift toward broader adoption similar to trends seen in Sweden.

    The report found that discretion is the leading reason women choose nicotine pouches, while flavor ranks as their top purchasing factor, compared with price for men. Among female pouch users, 55% said they had quit smoking after switching to nicotine pouches, and 75% reported encouraging others to move away from cigarettes, suggesting growing consumer acceptance as the category expands.

  • Illicit Trade Picking Up in Wales

    Illicit Trade Picking Up in Wales

    Authorities in Newport, Wales, say their city has become a hotspot for the illicit tobacco and vape trade, having already identified 17 businesses selling illegal products since January 2026 and taking enforcement action against 14, including closures and prosecutions. Trading Standards seized 272,740 illicit cigarettes, 85.25 kg of hand-rolling tobacco, and 9,694 illegal vaping devices so far this year, following 59 seizures and 46 closure orders in 2025.

    With 9.8 vape shops per 100,000 people, Newport ranks eighth in the U.K. for vape shops per capita, fueling concerns over the rapid growth of the sector as officials say the illegal trade undermines legitimate retailers and is linked to wider criminal activity.

  • Imperial Warning Landlords to Police Tenants Selling Illicit Products

    Imperial Warning Landlords to Police Tenants Selling Illicit Products

    Imperial Brands warned commercial landlords across the UK that they could face criminal prosecution if they continue to collect rent from retail tenants selling counterfeit or illicit tobacco products. The company said it has written to landlords of multiple premises where investigations identified illegal tobacco sales despite repeated enforcement action, formally notifying them of the potential legal consequences if the activity continues.

    Imperial said landlords who knowingly benefit from illegal trade could face prosecution under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act, in addition to penalties associated with the sale of counterfeit goods, which can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years and unlimited fines. The company cited recent case law that it says confirms landlords may be held liable if they continue accepting rent from premises involved in illicit trade.

    Imperial is urging landlords to enforce lease provisions prohibiting illegal activity, cooperate with enforcement authorities, and evict non-compliant tenants where necessary. Deirdre Healy, Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Imperial Brands UK, said landlords “cannot turn a blind eye” to illicit tobacco sales, adding that the company is prepared to pursue legal remedies, including injunctions and support for criminal investigations, against landlords who fail to act.

  • UK Vaping Duty Expected to Generate £565M by 2030

    UK Vaping Duty Expected to Generate £565M by 2030

    The UK will introduce its new Vaping Products Duty (VPD) on October 1, applying to all vaping liquids, including nicotine-free products. The measure is expected to significantly boost government revenue, with vaping duty receipts projected to rise from £135 million in fiscal 2026/27 to £565 million by 2030/31.

    Under the new rules, travelers aged 17 and older entering Great Britain will be allowed to bring in up to 50ml of vaping liquid duty-free for personal use. Anyone carrying more than 50ml must declare the products and pay duty on the entire quantity, not just the excess amount.

    Northern Ireland will operate under different arrangements due to its access to the EU goods market. Travelers arriving directly from EU countries may continue bringing unlimited quantities of vaping liquid for personal use without paying duty, while arrivals from non-EU countries remain subject to existing personal goods allowances.

    The new duty and traveler limits are expected to affect duty-free retailers serving UK-bound passengers, potentially reducing purchase volumes and prompting adjustments to product assortments. HMRC has urged retailers and stakeholders to provide clear passenger guidance to minimize border non-compliance.

  • UK Could Shut Down Stores Selling Illicit Products for a Year

    The UK government announced plans today (June 10) to extend closure orders for businesses linked to criminal activity, including retailers selling illegal tobacco and vaping products, following a series of BBC investigations into organized crime on British high streets. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that under the proposed changes, authorities in England and Wales would be able to shut offending premises for up to 12 months, double the current maximum closure period of six months. The Home Office said the longer closures would give enforcement agencies more time to gather evidence, pursue prosecutions and prevent rogue operators from quickly reopening.

    The move has been welcomed by Trading Standards officials and industry observers who have argued that existing powers are insufficient to tackle persistent illegal tobacco and vape sales.

    “This is a welcome step from the government,” said Dr Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp. “Too often, we hear of corner shops or mini-marts caught by the authorities selling illicit products simply carrying on with their illegal activities immediately afterwards. The penalty for the illegal activity was simply not a deterrent. This has been a source of frustration for both enforcement authorities and responsible retailers. The potential to issue a 12-month closure order on a business is a much more significant penalty and will make those engaged in illegal behavior think twice.”

    The announcement follows reports linking some convenience stores, vape shops and barbers to illicit cigarette sales, drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal working. The government said the extended closure powers will form part of a broader crackdown on organized crime in retail settings, alongside a newly announced £30 million High Street Crime Unit. The legislation is expected to be introduced later this year and come into force in early 2027.

  • 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.