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** 25 March 2025
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** UK
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** Lung specialist warns against misinterpreting vaping study findings (#1)
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** Academic urges smoking ban in homes with children to protect health (#2)
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** Increased enforcement for underage tobacco sales after £10m funding boost (#3)
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** Quitting smoking revives taste and transforms food enjoyment (#4)
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** Public health leader calls for tougher restrictions on gambling ads (#5)
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** Opinion: Five years after Covid: Preparing for the next pandemic (#6)
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** Opinion: The risks of legislating NHS reform (#7)
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** International
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** Tobacco measures contribute to decline in sales of top Dutch supermarket brands (#9)
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** UK
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** Lung specialist warns against misinterpreting vaping study findings

Dr Matt Evison, a leading lung cancer specialist, has expressed concern over the premature release of findings from a Manchester vaping study, arguing it could mislead the public. The unpublished research suggests vaping may be as harmful as smoking, a claim that has drawn criticism from tobacco control experts. Dr Evison emphasised that vaping plays a crucial role in helping smokers quit and reducing smoking-related deaths. While acknowledging concerns over youth vaping, he stressed the need to distinguish between its use as a cessation tool and its appeal to non-smokers. He called for swift government action to regulate vaping products and limit their accessibility to young people through new legislation.

Source: Manchester Evening News, 24 March 2025

See also: Department of Health and Social Care - Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings - GOV.UK ([link removed])
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** Academic urges smoking ban in homes with children to protect health

Professor Sean Semple of Stirling University has called for new legislation to prohibit smoking in homes where children are present, arguing it would significantly improve their health outcomes. Despite existing bans on smoking in public places, children remain at risk from second-hand smoke in domestic settings, where concentrations can be higher due to limited ventilation. Exposure to tobacco smoke at home has been linked to severe respiratory conditions and long-term health issues. Highlighting the gap in current protections, Professor Semple urged policymakers to consider stricter regulations to safeguard children’s well-being.

Source: Express and Star, 24 March 2025

See also: Tobacco Control - Protecting children from second-hand tobacco smoke in the home: the need for a new approach | Tobacco Control ([link removed])
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** Increased enforcement for underage tobacco sales after £10m funding boost

Retailers will face stricter enforcement measures as the government allocates an additional £10 million to Trading Standards to combat underage tobacco and vape sales. The funding will support the recruitment of 80 apprentice enforcement officers tasked with preventing illegal products from reaching local shops. This move comes ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will ban tobacco sales to those born after 1 January 2009, effectively phasing out smoking in the UK. Retailers risk on-the-spot fines and new licensing requirements as part of broader efforts to strengthen tobacco regulation and curb illicit trade.

Source: Forecourt Trader, 24 March 2025
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** Quitting smoking revives taste and transforms food enjoyment

A former smoker has shared how giving up cigarettes has dramatically enhanced his ability to taste and enjoy food. Experts explain that smoking dulls taste buds and damages smell receptors, but improvements begin within a week of quitting, with full recovery taking up to two months. A leading sensory scientist suggests that tracking flavour changes, using scent training, and replacing post-meal cigarettes with coffee can help smokers stay motivated. The ex-smoker, who quit after 25 years, described rediscovering the rich flavours of foods like cheese, coffee, and steak, reinforcing his commitment to a smoke-free life.

Source: The Sun, 24 March 2025
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** Public health leader calls for tougher restrictions on gambling ads

Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health for the City of York, has urged stricter regulations on gambling advertisements, similar to tobacco ad bans. His annual report highlights gambling as a growing health risk for young people, with more than one in 10 in York admitting to gambling and some resorting to taking money without permission. The rise of mobile gambling has intensified concerns, with calls for early education and tighter advertising controls. The government has pledged new measures, including a levy on gambling profits to fund prevention and treatment, but campaigners argue more action is needed to protect young people.

Source: BBC News, 24 March 2025

See also: City of York Council - Director of Public Health's Annual Report – City of York Council ([link removed])
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** Opinion: Five years after Covid: Preparing for the next pandemic

To mark the fifth anniversary of the first Covid lockdown Greg Fell, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health, stresses the need for better preparedness in future pandemics. Fell argues that local public health teams must play a greater role in planning and decision-making, as they are best placed to understand and address community needs.

Ensuring resilience to future health crises also requires tackling pre-existing health inequalities by improving housing, regulating harmful industries, and creating healthier living environments. Sustainable funding for public health services is essential to support these efforts. Fell makes a call to learn from past mistakes: better collaboration, early data sharing, and long-term investment will be vital to mitigating the impact of the next pandemic.

Source: Local Government Chronicle, 21 March 2025
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** Opinion: The risks of legislating NHS reform

Bill Morgan, former advisor to Andrew Lansley and Rishi Sunak, argues that the government’s plan to dismantle NHS England is justified but warns that passing legislation to do so would be unnecessarily complex and politically risky. He suggests that ministers already have the authority to restructure the organisation without legal intervention, avoiding drawn-out debates and unintended consequences. A legislative process would require redefining NHS England’s many functions, potentially leading to the re-emergence of independent bodies that had previously been merged. It could also ignite opposition, forcing ministers to publicly defend controversial decisions while delaying meaningful improvements. Instead, Morgan advises a more pragmatic approach, bringing key elements of NHS England under government control without the complications of new laws.

Source: Health Service Journal, 24 March 2025
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** International
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** Tobacco measures contribute to decline in sales of top Dutch supermarket brands

Sales of the 100 leading branded products in Dutch supermarkets dropped by around 9% last year, partly due to the removal of tobacco products from all but specialist retailers. Tobacco brands, which once held a significant share of the market, have seen their sales plummet, with Marlboro expected to disappear from the top rankings next year. However, the decline also reflects a broader shift away from major brand names, whose share of supermarket sales has steadily decreased over the past two decades. Consumers are increasingly opting for fresh products, which are not a focus of these brands. Despite this trend, Coca-Cola saw a 9% increase in sales, securing the top spot, followed by Hertog Jan and Lay’s.

Source: Dutch News, 24 March 2025
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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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