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** 9 October 2024
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** UK
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** Richer kids are more likely to drink, vape and take drugs before 16 (#1)
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** Scottish ministers begin budget talks with political rivals (#2)
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** Imperial Brands to dish out more to shareholders as e-cigarette sales grow (#3)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Victoria Atkins calls for Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be introduced during NHS debate (#4)
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** Parliamentary written questions (#4)
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** UK
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** Richer kids are more likely to drink, vape and take drugs before 16

Children using illegal drugs, drinking alcohol and vaping are more likely to be from wealthier families, new analysis has shown.

The Social Mobility Commission, an independent government body, analysed NHS data and found that children aged 11 to 15 who admitted drinking alcohol, taking drugs or vaping were from higher socioeconomic groups. It said the findings were “deeply concerning” but could not identify the underlying causes.

In its report, The Childhood Origins of Social Mobility, it said that 32 per cent of children from a more affluent group admitted to drinking alcohol in the previous month, compared with 17 per cent in the less affluent group.

Almost 23 per cent of children from wealthier backgrounds admitted consuming illegal drugs in the previous month compared with 17 per cent of children from poorer backgrounds.

Smoking bucked the trend, although it was only slightly higher among the less affluent group, at 5 per cent versus 4 per cent.

The data is from a period of pandemic restrictions in 2021, which the researchers say may have affected the results. The picture in more recent years in unclear.

Rob Wilson, deputy chair of the commission, said: “It is deeply concerning that children are drinking alcohol, taking drugs and vaping at such young ages.

“Research tells us that young people from more affluent backgrounds are more likely to use these substances than disadvantaged children, and the gap is widening.

“We don’t yet know the exact reasons for this, although our report does highlight that many young people are also experiencing anxiety and poor mental health. What we do know is that adults in higher socioeconomic groups drink alcohol more frequently than other groups, possibly due to the cost and this may make alcohol more accessible.”

Source: The Times, 9 October 2024

See also: Social Mobility Commission launches Childhood Origins of Social Mobility Report ([link removed] )

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** Scottish ministers begin budget talks with political rivals

Holyrood ministers have completed an initial round of budget talks with all five opposition parties.

They have started the discussions two months before they actually publish their draft budget for the year ahead because the Scottish government needs some help from their political rivals to get their plans approved.

Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee reached out to all five opposition parties over the last couple of weeks for preliminary discussions.

It is unlikely the SNP could reach agreement with the Conservatives or Labour, and with only one MSP, Alba has insufficient clout. That means a deal with either the Greens or Lib Dems is necessary.

Senior Lib Dems say they would struggle to back a budget that included spending on a national care service or independence preparations.

The Greens have an opposition debate on budget priorities in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
In advance, they have been calling for new taxes on private jets and cruise ships and a public health levy on alcohol and tobacco retailers.

The Scottish government knows it will have to accommodate the demands of some of its rivals.

Source: BBC News, 8 October 2024

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** Editorial note: The levy proposed ([link removed]) by the Scottish Green Party would be raised from the profits of licensed alcohol and tobacco retailers. Scotland has a retail licensing system for both alcohol and tobacco, unlike England which only has licencing for alcohol. This model is different from the ‘polluter pays’ levy proposed ([link removed]) by ASH which would work by capping the prices and profits of tobacco manufacturers to raise funding for tobacco control activity.
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** Imperial Brands to dish out more to shareholders as e-cigarette sales grow

Winston cigarette maker Imperial Brands has said it plans to dish out more cash to its shareholders, after reporting fast growth of its vapes and alternative smoking products.

The tobacco giant promised to increase the amount of money returned to shareholders from £2.4 billion to £2.8 billion in the year ahead.

Imperial Brands, which still makes the bulk of its sales from traditional cigarettes, has benefited from hiking prices.
It is among tobacco firms to have come under pressure in recent years thanks to a broad decline in the number of people smoking cigarettes, particularly in some of its largest western markets.

But that decline has slowed over the past year across the markets it operates in, the business said.

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Imperial Brands is managing to drive growth not only in its fledgling next generation brands, but also in ‘legacy’ tobacco products which still make up the lion’s share of the business.

“In aggregate, tobacco volume pressures have eased across the company’s focus markets, and despite slowing price hikes for the pleasure of lighting up, pricing has been strong.

“However, market share declines in Germany and the UK remain a source of concern.”

Source: The Independent, 8 October 2024

Editorial note: Tobacco Tactics report ([link removed]) that in 2023 around 97% of Imperial Brands net revenue was raised from the sale of cigarettes and other conventional combustible tobacco products, meaning that the lions share of stakeholder profits will be from the sale of tobacco.
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Victoria Atkins calls for Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be introduced during NHS debate

Speaking at the debate on NHS performance in light of the Darzi investigation on Monday the 7th of October, Vicotria Atkins, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, questioned the governments failure to table the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

She said: “Day 95 of this fumbling Labour Government, and yet another general debate to talk about a report that we talked about three weeks ago. That seems to be the golden—or Gray—thread running through this Government: lots of talk, but where is the action? If the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the nation’s health, why did he not bring forward the Second Reading of the Tobacco And Vapes Bill this evening, to help our children and bring about the first smokefree generation? That Bill is ready to go; why are the Government not?”

Source: Hansard, 7 October 2024 See also: Lord Darzi's Independent investigation of the NHS in England ([link removed])
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** Parliamentary written questions

Asked by Mary Glindon, Labour Party, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will include measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ensure that vapes remain easily accessible as a smoking cessation tool.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Gorton and Denton

Our position on vapes is clear, that they can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, but that they are not recommended for non-smokers or children, and there are legitimate concerns about the unknown long-term harms from vaping.Following the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as other alternative methods to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services, helping thousands of adults each year to live healthier lives.In addition, we remain committed to our national Swap to Stop scheme, supporting adult smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes under a new national scheme, the first of its kind in
the world.

Source: Hansard, 8 October 2024

Asked by Mary Glindon, Labour Party, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with the UK Vaping Industry Association to discuss the introduction of a Vape Licensing Scheme.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Gorton and Denton

Since September 2023, the Department has not met with the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA). However, we have received and responded to several items of correspondence.The UKVIA, and other members of the vaping industry, did respond to the smoke-free generation and youth vaping consultation that ran from 12 October to 6 December 2023. We will also be consulting further with all interested parties before any future vaping regulations are introduced. Any meeting requests should be sent through the appropriate formal channels.

Source: Hansard, 8 October 2024
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**
Question 1 ([link removed])
Question 2 ([link removed])
Question 3 ([link removed])
Question 4 ([link removed])
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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