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** 9 July 2025
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** UK
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Christopher Snowdon argues that new tobacco laws could fuel the illicit market (#1)


** York mum’s story highlights success of local pregnancy quit-smoking scheme (#2)
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NHS launches pharmacy pilot to detect oesophageal cancer risk earlier (#3)
Northampton shop gives up alcohol licence after illegal tobacco haul (#4)


** International
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** Brussels considers new EU tobacco levy to plug budget gap (#5)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions (#6)
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** UK
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** Christopher Snowdon argues that new tobacco laws could fuel the illicit market

Christopher Snowdon, the Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, argues that Britain may face similar unintended consequences to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as was seen to tobacco restrictions in Australia. Snowdon highlights the violence in Australia and suggests that Britain could face a similar surge in criminality due to restrictions such as the smokefree generation policy in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Snowdon argues that the illicit market is growing prior to the introduction of the Bill.

Source: The Telegraph, 8 July 2025

Editorial note: the latest data from HMRC demonstrates that the illicit market in the UK is stable and that claims that it is increasing are unfounded. Australia’s regulatory system and the challenges experienced there are difference from the UK. See ASH’s response to the latest illicit market data here: [link removed]
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** York mum’s story highlights success of local pregnancy quit-smoking scheme

A mother from York shared how support from a local health trainer and free nicotine replacement helped her stop smoking early in pregnancy. The York Health Trainers programme, part of a wider regional effort, has contributed to the number of women smoking during pregnancy in Humber and North Yorkshire falling to its lowest recorded level.

NHS figures show only 8.3% of pregnant women across the area smoked during pregnancy last year, dropping to 5.3% in the Vale of York. The scheme trains midwives to provide regular behavioural support and access to stop smoking aids.

Scott Crosby, director of the regional tobacco control programme Breathe, welcomed the progress but stressed that “there are still over 1,100 mums-to-be… exposing both themselves and their unborn babies to significant risk.”

Source: The Press, 9 July 2025
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** NHS launches pharmacy pilot to detect oesophageal cancer risk earlier

Hundreds of people in England will soon be able to take a quick “sponge on a string” test in local pharmacies to check for Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition that can lead to oesophageal cancer. This pilot, part of the government’s 10-year health plan, aims to reach those who frequently self-medicate for persistent heartburn but may not visit their GP.

Smoking, alongside diet, alcohol and other factors, significantly increases the risk of developing this, often fatal, cancer, which is usually diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

Health leaders describe the pharmacy-based checks as a convenient and potentially life-saving move that could bring diagnosis and peace of mind closer to home and lead to earlier intervention.

Source: The Guardian, 9 July 2025
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** Northampton shop gives up alcohol licence after illegal tobacco haul

A Northampton convenience store has given up its licence to sell alcohol following the discovery of a large quantity of illegal cigarettes and tobacco linked to the premises. Council officers and police seized hundreds of illicit cigarette packets, dozens of tobacco pouches and over 200 illegal disposable vapes from the shop and a parked BMW nearby.

The shop had faced allegations of selling illicit smoking products directly from the vehicle before voluntarily surrendering its licence. If the business wishes to resume selling alcohol, it will need to apply afresh.

Source: BBC News, 7 July 2025
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** International
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** Brussels considers new EU tobacco levy to plug budget gap

The European Commission is weighing the introduction of an EU-level levy on tobacco as part of efforts to secure fresh revenue for its next long-term budget, amid rising demands for defence spending and other priorities. A recent German government document highlights this idea, confirming an earlier report that the EU Commissioner in charge of taxation has been pushing for higher tobacco taxes.

While EU countries already impose excise duties and VAT on tobacco, the proposal under discussion could see funds channelled directly into the EU budget, similar to existing mechanisms like the Emissions Trading System. Any final proposals remain under review and would require unanimous approval from all member states to pass.

Source: Euractiv, 8 July 2025
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions

Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Romford, Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made towards Smokefree 2030.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, West Lancashire, Labour

Smokefree 2030 was Government policy prior to and until the July 2024 General Election. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help deliver our current ambition to create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country. Creating a smoke-free generation is expected to help reduce smoking rates of people aged between 14 and 30 years old to near zero by 2050.

To support current smokers, an additional £70 million is also being provided in 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England, and the national Swap to Stop scheme, swapping cigarettes for vapes, and Smoke-free Pregnancy Incentives Scheme are also continuing.

Source: Hansard, 8 July 2025
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** Asked by Marie Goldman, Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take legislative steps to ensure vapes have a minimum number of refill options to be defined as reusable.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, West Lancashire, Labour

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs introduced a ban on single use vapes on 1 June, which ensures that all products must be designed and intended to be reused. To be refillable, a product should have a replaceable pod or a tank that a user can add liquid to.

To compliment this and tackle youth vaping, the Department for Health and Social Care is also taking powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to enable regulation of many features of the design of a vape. This may include regulations on the size of a tank or refill container, the amount of liquid that can be included, as well as powers to standardise the size and shape of vapes, and to further restrict liquid availability.

The Government will consider this issue further as part of its secondary legislation programme following Royal Assent of the bill.

Source: Hansard, 8 July 2025
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** Asked by Baroness Walmsley, Liberal Democrat

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that cigarette filter tips are included in the definition of relevant products in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that are not allowed to be advertised or promoted.

Answered by Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, Labour

The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 prohibits any advertisements whose purpose or effect is to promote a tobacco product. The Advertising Standards Authority’s rules state that marketing communications for cigarette filters should not encourage people to start smoking or increase their consumption.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill restates the restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products. We have no current plans to introduce additional restrictions on the advertising of filters through the bill.

Source: Hansard, 8 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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