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STG UK adds larger pack option to menthol cigarillo range
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK is expanding its cigarillo range by introducing a larger pack containing 17 cigarillos, replacing the existing 10-pack format. Due to be available in retailers from August, the new pack is intended to increase sales and market share by offering a lower price per unit. The new packs are also intended to appeal to retailers, providing higher profit margins. This follows STG UK’s earlier release of berry and mint flavoured capsules.
Source: Talking Retail, 28 July 2025
Editorial note:
Tobacco companies have responded to the 2020 by launching a range of flavoured cigarillos. Although cigarillos closely resemble cigarettes, they are taxed at a much lower rate and are not subject to regulations such as requiring standardised packaging, minimum pack sizes or prohibition of characterising flavours.
Over the last decade, non-cigarette tobacco use in England has risen sharply, with 5 times as many people exclusively smoking non-cigarette tobacco products (eg. cigar/pipe/shisha). As of September-2023, there were around 772,800 adult non-cigarette tobacco smokers in England; around five times more than a decade earlier. The rise in prevalence differed by age, with more pronounced increases among younger age groups.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give the government powers to regulate flavours in all tobacco products, including cigarillos. ASH is calling for the government to reclassify cigarillos as factory-made cigarettes so that they are covered by regulations on standardised packaging, minimum pack sizes and prohibition of characterising flavours. This will prevent manufacturers using these products to continue undermining tobacco policy.
See our response to the consultation on
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Barnet shops issued closure notices after illegal tobacco and vape haul
Three shops in Barnet have been served with three-month closure notices following a Trading Standards crackdown that uncovered nearly £50,000 worth of illicit tobacco and vape products. The stores were found in possession of large quantities of non-compliant products. The action is part of the council’s efforts to target retailers repeatedly breaching trading laws.
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Australia introduces cartoon-based school program to curb teen vaping
An animated education program designed to deter young people from vaping will be introduced in schools as part of the Australian national curriculum until 2028. The interactive cartoon, developed with input from students and teachers, is aimed at Years 7 and 8 and has been shown to reduce the likelihood of teenagers taking up vaping. The initiative forms part of the Australian government’s wider anti-vaping strategy, which includes education, online campaigns, and tighter restrictions on sales.
Source: Mail Online, 29 July 2025
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AMA warns against RFK Jr’s plan to overhaul US preventive health taskforce
The American Medical Association has voiced strong opposition to reported plans by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary, to restructure the US Preventive Services Task Force—a key advisory body responsible for recommending screenings and preventive care measures covered by insurers. The move reportedly stems from Kennedy’s belief that the taskforce—and the AMA more broadly—are ideologically biased or “too woke.”
The AMA warned that dismantling the panel would threaten access to evidence-based services like cancer and HIV screenings, mental health assessments, and domestic violence interventions. Health groups argue such interference risks politicising public health and undermining care access.
Source: The Guardian, 29 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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