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** 2 July 2025
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** UK
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** Co-op Wholesale to cover £2 million tobacco price cut (#1)
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** Drinks sector warned of WHO’s expanding regulatory model (#2)
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** Alcohol advertising curbs removed from NHS plan amid pressure from industry (#3)
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** Government to require restaurants to report diners’ calorie intake under new health drive (#4)
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** Annual cost of excess weight in UK reaches £126bn, sparking calls for urgent action (#5)
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** International
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** EU states urged to prioritise health over tobacco industry interests (#6)
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** UK
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** Co-op Wholesale to cover £2 million tobacco price cut

Co-op Wholesale has committed £2 million to reducing its wholesale prices across more than 500 tobacco products. This initiative reportedly aims to ease the financial burden on convenience retailers and improve competitiveness against rival suppliers.

Source: The Grocer, 2 July 2025
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** Editorial note: Research by the University of Edinburgh has shown that tobacco has low profit margins for retailers and is a falling part of footfall: [link removed]
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** Drinks sector warned of WHO’s expanding regulatory model

Writing for The Drinks Business, Mike Coppen-Gardner, the founder of SPQR, a communications agency specialising in regulatory strategy for corporations facing policy changes, discusses the mounting pressure faced by the alcoholic drinks sector. He attributes this to the World Health Organisation's adoption of a zero-tolerance approach to alcohol, mirroring its past strategy on tobacco. Central to this shift is the assertion that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, a stance that could pave the way for increasingly severe restrictions, including mandatory warning labels, advertising bans, and standardised packaging.

Coppen-Gardner argues that the financial and legal risks are substantial, with industry leaders warning of potential losses in the hundreds of billions if full-scale restrictions are implemented. Stakeholders argue that voluntary moderation and innovation already show positive trends, and that the industry must act swiftly to counter what is seen as an overreach in the name of public health.

Source: The Drinks Business, 2 July 2025

Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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** Alcohol advertising curbs removed from NHS plan amid pressure from industry

Plans to introduce stricter alcohol regulations in the government's forthcoming ten-year NHS strategy have been scaled back following pressure from industry groups and ministers. Proposals such as a minimum unit price and advertising restrictions — including a possible watershed or full ban — were ultimately dropped due to fears over economic impact and political backlash.

While health officials are still exploring stronger warning labels referencing cancer risks, firm commitments have been avoided. Industry representatives voiced serious concerns over potential financial damage and business closures, citing improvements in youth drinking trends. Public health campaigners criticised the retreat, arguing it weakens the government’s stated goal of prioritising prevention and undermines efforts to tackle rising alcohol-related deaths and NHS costs.

Source: The Times, 1 July 2025
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** Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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** Government to require restaurants to report diners’ calorie intake under new health drive

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** Large restaurant chains could soon be obliged to submit data on customer calorie consumption. The move, which targets businesses with more than 250 employees, aims to reduce the national intake by encouraging healthier menu options. The Department of Health plans to use the data to set targets that improve the nutritional profile of food sales. A formal consultation is expected following the release of the government's 10 Year Plan.

Source: The Times, 1 July 2025

Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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** Annual cost of excess weight in UK reaches £126bn, sparking calls for urgent action

New analysis has found that the total cost of overweight and obesity to the UK has soared to £126 billion annually — far exceeding previous estimates. The figure includes NHS spending, reduced productivity, informal care, and economic inactivity due to ill health. The study, commissioned by the Nesta thinktank and carried out by Frontier Economics, suggests that the cost could rise to £150 billion by 2035 without stronger policies. Campaigners have urged the government to impose stricter measures on the food industry, such as extending the sugar tax and enforcing limits on salt and sugar content. Ministers are under increasing pressure to act as obesity-related illness contributes to rising economic inactivity and NHS strain.

Source: The Guardian, 2 July 2025

Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.
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** International
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** EU states urged to prioritise health over tobacco industry interests

A coalition of European anti-tobacco organisations is calling on the EU and its member states to resist the influence of the tobacco industry, which they accuse of prioritising profit over public health. With traditional smoking rates declining, manufacturers are shifting focus to alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and pouches, marketing them heavily to younger audiences. These organisations argue these efforts aim to establish market dominance before proper regulation can be implemented. Concerns have also been raised about certain member states allegedly supporting industry interests at the political level, further complicating the path to coordinated public health policy.

Source: Le Monde, 2 July 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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