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** 24 July 2025
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** UK
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** Oldham couple celebrate quitting smoking together after major health scare (#1)
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** International
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** US doctors reiterate that brief exposure to second-hand smoke can still harm heart and lungs (#2)
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** Study finds adolescents who use tobacco and e-cigarettes are more likely to report depression and anxiety (#3)
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** Pakistan Tobacco Company forecasts $150 million from exports (#4)
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** New Zealand Government faces criticism after dropping ban on non-removable battery vapes (#5)
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** Irish Government delays alcohol health warning labels after Drinks Ireland raised US trade concerns (#6)
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** Parliamentary
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** Written Questions (#7)
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** UK
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** Oldham couple celebrate quitting smoking together after major health scare

A former smoker from Oldham, who faced losing his leg due to vascular disease, is celebrating 1,000 days without cigarettes alongside his wife. Both started smoking at the age of 10 and had struggled to quit despite previous attempts. Motivated by health risks and supported by a local NHS-backed stop smoking service, Your Health Oldham, they successfully quit smoking with personalised help, including tailored nicotine replacement strategies. Since quitting, the couple have enjoyed improved health and saved enough money to travel abroad regularly. Their story was shared at a local event aimed at making Oldham smokefree by 2030.

Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle, 22 July 2025
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** International
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** US doctors reiterate that brief exposure to second-hand smoke can still harm heart and lungs

Medical specialists in the US highlight that brief contact with second-hand smoke can injure blood vessels, inflame the lungs and raise cancer risk, as it contains thousands of harmful chemicals. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable, facing risks like developmental delays and birth complications. Experts warn that simply keeping a distance or ventilating rooms does not remove lingering toxic particles, which can remain for hours or days. Experts call for completely smoke-free homes and public areas, supported by stronger regulations and greater awareness, to effectively protect non-smokers.

Source: Business Standard, 24 July 2025
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** Study finds adolescents who use tobacco and e-cigarettes are more likely to report depression and anxiety

A recent study analysing data from over 60,000 U.S. adolescents has found that those who use e-cigarettes, traditional tobacco products or both are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to non-users, according to a study published in PLOS Mental Health by Noor Abdulhay of West Virginia University. The research, based on data from the 2021–2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, showed that dual users faced the highest likelihood of mental health challenges. While the study could not establish a direct causal link, the findings underscore the importance of targeted prevention efforts and mental health support for young people who engage in any form of tobacco or nicotine use.

Source: Public Library of Science, 24 July 2025

Editorial note: The detrimental impact of smoking on mental health is well established. Smoking contributes to development of some mental health conditions (including schizophrenia and depression ([link removed]) ) and damages people’s wealth, health and employability, further contributing to the burden of poor mental health. Stopping smoking is linked ([link removed]) with improvements in mental health and wellbeing which are comparable to the impact of taking anti-depressants.

Evidence on the link between vaping and mental health is still emerging although one recent study ([link removed]) suggests that nicotine does not play a major role in the effects of smoking on mental health. However, vaping can lead to dependency, which can make people feel stressed, restless, irritable and unable to concentrate.

It is likely that the relationship goes both ways i.e. that people who have mental health problems are more likely to smoke or vape, and vice versa.
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** Pakistan Tobacco Company forecasts $150 million from exports

Pakistan Tobacco Company anticipates earning over $150 million through tobacco exports in the current financial year, supported by direct contracts with over 10,000 farmers and technical assistance across the production cycle. The country’s total tobacco crop production has reached around 140 million kilogrammes, exceeding the combined demand of all companies, while arguing that proportional distribution mechanisms help protect farmer interests. The company also argues that the advance federal excise duty is absorbed by manufacturers and does not impact farmers.

Source: The Express Tribune, 24 July 2025

Editorial note: As argued by the University of Bath on their Tobacco Tactics ([link removed]) page, the tobacco industry often claim tobacco farming offers a good livelihood for farmers, however in reality it leads to labour exploitation and health issues.

Under contract farming systems, farmers receive plants and machinery from leaf-buying companies with no upfront cost, and in return commit to selling their tobacco to the leaf merchant. However, buying companies set leaf prices, which are often very low, and leaf buying companies can also deduct high cost from the payment to farmers to pay back the initial input of machinery they provided.

A WHO ([link removed]) report published in 2017 on tobacco and the environment found the long-term consequences of tobacco farming include “increased food insecurity, frequent sustained farmers debt, illness and poverty among farmworkers, and widespread environmental damage”. Additionally, the WHO have stated that each day a tobacco worker may “absorb as much nicotine as found in 50 cigarettes”, causing huge health risks and nicotine poisoning.
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** New Zealand Government faces criticism after dropping ban on non-removable battery vapes

A planned ban on vapes with built-in batteries has been scrapped by the New Zealand Government following a legal challenge from a major vaping retailer. The original ban, introduced by the previous Labour Government, aimed to curb youth vaping and reduce safety risks linked to battery tampering. Health advocates argue the reversal shows undue influence from the vaping industry.

Source: Stuff, 24 July 2025
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** Irish Government delays alcohol health warning labels after Drinks Ireland raised US trade concerns

Plans to introduce cancer warning labels on alcohol in Ireland have been pushed back by two years after industry representatives warned the Taoiseach that the measure risked being viewed as a trade barrier by the United States. The labelling rules, originally set for 2026, will now be implemented in 2028, after the industry argued for a delay in the implementation of the new rules. The drinks sector, heavily reliant on exports to the US, argued the new rules could harm competitiveness.

Source: The Irish Times, 23 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.

See also: Killer Tactics ([link removed])
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** Parliamentary
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** Written Questions

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** Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60427 on Tobacco: Excise Duties, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of falling cigarette and hand rolling tobacco receipts on the size of the illicit tobacco market.
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** Answered on 23 July by James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Ealing North
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** HMRC recently published an updated version of their Measuring Tax Gaps publication ([link removed]) which now includes tax gap estimates up to 2023/24. The illicit market volume for cigarettes is shown in Table 3.13 and the total consumption volume is shown in Table 3.12. The illicit market for hand rolling tobacco is shown in Table 3.17 and the total consumption volume is shown in Table 3.16.
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** The Department continues to investigate how the illicit tobacco market is evolving, including through its compliance activity, and the extent to which that may affect overall tax receipts seen.
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** Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54690 on Tobacco: Excise Duties, if she will make a comparative assessment of the rate of decline in smoking rates as illustrated in the ONS: Adult Smoking habits in the UK data for (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023 and the rate of the decline in HMRC’s tobacco duty receipts in the Tobacco Bulletin.
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**
Answered on 23 July by James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Ealing North
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** Table 1 below shows adult smoking prevalence in the UK and tobacco duty receipts between 2021 and 2023. The prevalence figures are taken from the ON’S “Adult Smoking habits in the UK” dataset. The receipts figures are taken from HMRC’s Tobacco Bulletin which includes figures up to April 2025.
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** Table 1: Adult Smoking Prevalence and Tobacco Duty Receipts 2021-2023
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** Year
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** UK Adult Smoking Prevalence
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** Tobacco Duty Receipts (£ million)
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** 2021
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** 13.3%
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** 10,360
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** 2022
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** 12.9%
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** 10,208
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** 2023
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** 11.9%
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** 8,706
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**
The ONS smoking prevalence data shows the percentage of adults in the UK who smoke cigarettes but does not give any indication of how much or how often these adults smoke.
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** The Office for Budget Responsibility discusses drivers of tobacco duty receipts in relation to the tobacco duty forecast on their Tobacco duties webpage ([link removed]) . Receipts are driven by inflation (CPI and RPI), real household consumption and underlying trends in tobacco consumption. The downward trend in tobacco consumption has accelerated in recent years, partly reflecting changing attitudes and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes.
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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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