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Tobacco-linked deaths rise globally despite declines in some countries
A major international study has found that tobacco exposure was responsible for over seven million deaths worldwide in 2023, with men disproportionately affected. Although the UK has achieved a significant decline in tobacco-related deaths since 1990, global figures have increased, with some countries, such as Egypt, experiencing steep rises. The findings, presented at a global health conference in Dublin, emphasise the continued need for robust anti-tobacco strategies. Additional research from Latin America highlighted the economic burden of tobacco in low- and middle-income countries, while new interventions—including an AI-based mobile tool in China—show promise in helping smokers quit. Health experts called for intensified regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, including vapes, to prevent further harm.
Source: The Guardian, 24 June 2025
See also: WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic
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Retailers risk losing vape licences over poor age-check compliance
Convenience stores may face significant challenges securing licences to sell tobacco and vaping products under upcoming legislation if they fail to consistently verify customer age. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduces stricter controls, including powers to introduce location-based licence limits and closer scrutiny of retailers past compliance. The Association of Convenience Stores has warned that this could lead to legitimate retailers losing their license to sell vapes or tobacco.
Experts warn that stores with weak ID-check procedures—particularly during evenings and weekends—could be targeted by enforcement authorities and risk public objections during licence applications. Mystery shopper audits have shown convenience stores outperform specialist vape retailers in some areas, though both sectors show room for improvement. Initiatives like the Local Vape Action scheme aim to support retailers in strengthening their practices and building consumer trust.
Source: Better Retailing, 24 June 2025
See also: ASH written evidence on the retail licensing and product registration powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
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NHS to redirect £2.2bn towards areas with greatest health need
The UK government has announced a major funding shift aimed at addressing long-standing health inequalities across England. As part of a new 10-year NHS plan, £2.2 billion will be invested in services in rural areas, coastal towns and working-class communities. The funds, previously allocated to cover financial gaps, will now support frontline staff, medicines, technology and equipment. The move follows cost-saving efforts within the NHS, including cuts to administrative overheads and agency staffing. The plan also includes a review of GP funding models, highlighting that deprived areas often have fewer doctors and receive less per patient than wealthier regions. The government says the goal is to ensure healthcare access and quality are determined by need, not geography.
Source: Sky News, 25 June 2025
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Drop in smoking during pregnancy marks public health success in Northumberland
New data reveals a marked decline in smoking among pregnant women in Northumberland, with rates falling from over 20% in 2011/12 to just 6% in 2024/25. Similar improvements have been recorded across the wider Northeast and North Cumbria region. Health officials attribute this progress to a combination of targeted NHS and local authority interventions, including early-stage support, clear health messaging from midwives, access to cessation tools, and routine monitoring. The coordinated approach is being hailed as a milestone in improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Source: Northumberland Gazette, 23 June 2025
See also: ASH - Government achieves smoking in pregnancy reduction target – but progress threatened by NHS cuts | Saving Babies’ Lives: Tracking the progress in reducing maternal smoking in England
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HMRC’s gap figures revive debate over tobacco regulation
HM Revenue & Customs has released figures estimating that approximately 13.8 % of tobacco consumption in 2023–24 was illicit, representing a tax shortfall of around £1.4 billion. While this suggests the illicit market has levelled off in recent years, it remains significantly lower than levels seen in the mid 2000s.
Health advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) welcomed the publication, highlighting continued progress in reducing illicit tobacco since addressing it became a priority. Hazel Cheeseman, the charity’s chief executive, stressed that the tobacco industry’s warnings that regulation and tax rises are fulfilling the illicit market are not supported by the evidence.
Responding to ASH, Philip Morris points to their own research published by KPMG claiming that 1 in 4 cigarettes in the UK were illicit in 2024.
Source: Convenience Store, 25 June 2025
See also: ASH - Press release: NEW official estimate of the illicit tobacco market: ASH response | HMRC - Tax gaps: Excise (including alcohol, tobacco and oils). June 2025.
Editorial note: The tobacco industry has a long track record of overstating the size of the illicit market as part of their lobbying against tobacco control measures. The methods use in the PMI-funded reports produced by KPMG have been criticised by independent experts for consistently overestimating levels of illicit cigarettes, being over reliant on unvalidated tobacco industry information, being insufficiently transparent and misrepresenting both the findings and pre-existing data. A review of tobacco industry data on illicit tobacco trade published in Tobacco Control concluded that: "The primary purpose of tobacco industry-funded data on [the illicit tobacco trade] seems to be to serve as a platform for the industry’s lobbying and public relations strategies."
For more information see the Tobacco Tactics page on KPMG and their longstanding relationship with the tobacco industry.
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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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