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Sixty years since cigarette advertisements disappeared from British screens
Marking sixty years since the ban on cigarette advertisements in the UK, Sky History has taken a look back on cigarette advertising, industry backlash, and how public attitudes have changed. The article unpacks the shift from smoking being portrayed by the industry as an example of glamour and rebellion, to the change in public attitudes after the pivotal medical report released in 1962 by the Royal College of Physicians that linked smoking with fatal illnesses. Three years after the report, cigarette adverts vanished from television. The article argues that while the tobacco and advertising industries objected, public reaction to the removal of these advertisements was muted. This move marked the start of a long process of restrictions that eventually removed tobacco from billboards, sports sponsorships, shop displays and, most recently, branded packaging.
The article concludes that the ban not only helped to reduce smoking rates but also changed how Britain approached the regulation of advertising for harmful products, paving the way for scrutiny of alcohol, gambling and junk food promotion. Today, smoking rates are far lower and life expectancy has risen, showing the long-term impact of that cultural and legislative shift.
Source: Sky HISTORY, 18th August 2025
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Slough outperforms RBWM in latest quit-smoking results
Recent NHS data shows that while the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) has historically achieved higher annual quit rates than Slough, the latest quarterly figures for January to March reveal the opposite trend. Slough’s quit rates were stronger across all demographics, while RBWM’s results varied significantly.
Gender differences remain clear, with women in RBWM far more likely to quit than men, and older women the most successful group. Younger adults in RBWM continue to struggle the most, particularly compared to their peers in Slough, where quit rates among under-35s were twice as high.
RBWM highlighted that its overall yearly success rate remains above the national average and in line with nearby authorities, despite receiving less funding than some boroughs.
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 18th August 2025
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Southeast councils report sharp rise in illicit vape seizures
BBC analysis shows an increase in the number of illegal vapes confiscated by Trading Standards across the Southeast. Trading Standards figures show Sussex authorities seized more than 21,000 products in 2024, while Surrey’s total jumped to nearly 14,000 from just a few hundred. Brighton and Hove, West Sussex and East Sussex also reported thousands of seizures last year after previously recording none.
Councils said the surge reflects intensified efforts to tackle rogue traders and protect young people from harmful products. The increase comes ahead of a government ban on disposable vapes introduced in June, part of a wider move to curb illegal products
Source: BBC News, 18th August 2025
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Vape manufacturers sidestep single-use vape ban with disposable-style reusables
According to the Mail on Sunday (MoS), the prohibition on single-use vapes has been undermined by manufacturers releasing near-identical reusable devices, which many users continue to discard rather than refill. Neilsen data commissioned by vape manufacturers and leaked to the MoS shows that millions of these “copycat” products were sold in the first month after the ban, yet far fewer refills were purchased, suggesting most consumers treat them as throwaways.
A survey of 1,000 vapers commissioned for the industry, also leaked to the MoS, indicated that new devices are typically bought every couple of weeks, with over half admitting to discarding them once empty.
Source: Mail on Sunday, 17th August 2025
Editorial note: This article does not include details about the industry figures cited or the survey methodology.
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More NHS diagnostic centres now open evenings and weekends
Patients in England are gaining greater access to key health tests such as MRI scans and endoscopies, with 100 community diagnostic centres (CDCs) now operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Located in accessible sites like shopping centres and campuses, CDCs are designed to provide faster and more convenient diagnostic services.
The government says the expansion has already enabled over 1.6 million additional tests compared with the previous year, with plans to extend hours across all centres and build more facilities.
Health charities welcomed the move, with Asthma + Lung UK stressing that easier local access to tests can lead to earlier diagnosis of lung conditions, fewer hospital admissions, and longer life expectancy. However, professional bodies warned that without investment in radiographers, demand for imaging could outstrip capacity.
Source: The Guardian, 18th August 2025
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Singapore to introduce stricter penalties as vaping reclassified as drug offence
Singapore will begin treating vaping as a drug issue, with harsher penalties including imprisonment for those selling vapes “with harmful substances”. Vapes are already illegal but there are concerns about youth vaping. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the shift during the National Day Rally, citing the growing prevalence of illegal e-cigarettes among young people and the dangers of vapes containing substances such as etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic.
The government will launch a wide-reaching education campaign targeting schools, universities and National Service, alongside stepped-up enforcement led by the health and home affairs ministries.
Source: CNA, 17th August 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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