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Scottish Parliament to vote today on UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Health and Care Scotland reports that the Scottish Parliament will vote today on the UK Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Health organisations urge MSPs to pass the bill and highlight the need for strong measures to curb the tobacco and nicotine industry’s marketing tactics, emphasising the importance of the legislation in tackling smoking and vaping among youth.
Source: Health and Care Scotland, 29th May 2025
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UK civil service faces significant job cuts under new spending review
The UK government plans to reduce the civil service workforce by 10%, eliminating approximately 50,000 positions to decrease operating costs and decentralise roles from London. This initiative aims to return staffing levels to pre-Brexit and pre-Covid numbers. While over half of the departments have agreed on their budgets, disagreements persist, including around the funding for local government.
Source: Financial Times, 29th May 2025
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EU states call for updated tobacco and vape taxes
Fifteen EU countries have urged the European Commission to fast-track a proposal to raise minimum taxes on cigarettes and introduce new levies on vaping products. The move aims to align taxation levels across member states and address health concerns. The illicit tobacco trade, which costs over €10 billion annually, was also cited as a reason to introduce these changes. The proposal was delayed due to inflation concerns but is expected soon. However, some countries including Italy and Greece oppose the changes, arguing smoking rates are already falling.
Source: Financial Times, 26th May 2025
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G20 urged to take action on health taxes to curb chronic disease
The Conversation highlights the significant global health risks posed by sugary drinks, processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco, which collectively contribute to millions of deaths annually. It calls for G20 to support coordinated health taxes on these products, building on tobacco tax successes. Research shows such measures can reduce consumption and ease pressure on health systems. The article points to research findings that show a global 50% price increase via taxation could raise US$3.7 trillion in five years and save 50 million lives over five decades.
Source: The Conversation, 29th May 2025
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Greater focus on gender needed to improve tobacco control efforts
A study by Toronto’s York University and Global Strategy Lab published in BMJ Tobacco Control highlights a lack of gender analysis in tobacco control research. The researchers reviewed 43 peer-reviewed studies and found that only five assessed the gender-specific impacts of tobacco control policies. The study underscores the necessity for behaviours and needs of different genders to be considered in tobacco control to enhance policy efficacy and support diverse populations in quitting smoking.
Source: Medical Xpress, 28th May 2025
See also: Nanyangwe-Moyo T, Rosa Pereira LJ, Poirier MJ. Structured evaluation of gender integration in tobacco control research. Tobacco Control. Published Online First: 27 May 2025. doi:10.1136/tc-2025-059334.
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Tobacco sector resilience amid regulatory challenges
Proactive Investors reports that tobacco stocks remain a stable choice amid economic uncertainty due to their resilient business models. The article states that companies like Imperial Brands and British American Tobacco offer high yields and are expanding into newer nicotine products such as vaping which now contribute over £3 billion in revenue. It also reports that the industry has been largely unaffected by new tariffs.
Source: Proactive Investors, 27th May 2025
Editorial note: It is well documented that the tobacco industry continues to generate the majority of its profits from traditional cigarette sales.
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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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