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Vaping at bus stops could bring fines under new legislation
New rules proposed under the Bus Services Bill, currently at Report Stage in the House of Lords, could see people fined for vaping at bus stops and other public transport areas across the UK. Authorities such as Transport for London would be granted discretionary powers to issue £100 fixed penalties, with the amount potentially rising to £1,000 if unpaid. The changes aim to tackle anti-social behaviour on public transport, alongside other measures like addressing fare-dodging and noise disturbances.
Source: Evening Standard, 26 August 2025
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Government clashes with drug companies over NHS pricing dispute
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has criticised pharmaceutical firms for making financially unsustainable demands during talks over a scheme that requires companies to return excess profits to the NHS. The government had offered reforms it said would save over £1 billion and improve access to new treatments, but the negotiations broke down. In response, the industry has warned that it may relocate investment and clinical trials outside the UK if more of the NHS budget isn’t directed toward medicines. Industry leaders argue that resolving the dispute is essential to ensure NHS patients can benefit from innovative treatments and that UK life sciences can grow. The deadlock comes as the government prepares to implement its long-term plan for the NHS.
Source: The Times, 25 August 2025
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Campaign aims to curb cigarette litter during Manx races
Efforts to reduce cigarette litter in Douglas during the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT have been launched through a joint initiative between Douglas Council and Keep Britain Tidy. The campaign uses signage, free portable containers for cigarette ends, and business partnerships to tackle the environmental harm caused by discarded cigarette butts. Organisers chose to focus on race events due to the high number of outdoor smokers and hope to significantly reduce littering during the busy period. Officials say the campaign also seeks to shift public attitudes towards cigarette waste and promote long-term behavioural change in the capital.
Source: BBC News, 24 August 2025
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Obesity crisis deepens in the UK amid calls for change
Obesity in the UK has more than doubled since the 1990s, with over a quarter of adults now classified as obese, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. This crisis is placing huge financial pressure on the NHS, costing up to £12.6 billion annually when considering overweight-related conditions, per analysis by Frontier Economics and Nesta. The economic impact extends beyond healthcare, with 266,000 jobs lost each year due to weight-related illness, costing £24 billion in lost productivity.
Alfred Slade of the Obesity Health Alliance warned that deprivation is a driving force behind rising obesity, with people in the poorest areas twice as likely to be obese as those in more affluent parts of the country. He stressed that struggling families are not choosing unhealthy food out of preference but face systemic barriers to accessing affordable, nutritious options.
The data also shows obesity rates are significantly higher among Black British communities, those living with disabilities, and people without formal qualifications. Meanwhile, access to effective support like weight-loss jabs remains unequal. Health experts including Nesta argue that expanding NHS access to these drugs could help reduce health inequalities and ease the burden on public services. However, questions remain over how long patients should remain on the medication and what happens when they stop treatment.
Source: The Independent, 24 August 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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America: ‘Clear’ vapes linked to higher blood pressure and heart rate, study finds
New research from America indicates that e-cigarettes referred to as "clear" vapes—products that contain synthetic cooling agents which create a menthol-like cooling sensation without any minty taste or smell—may negatively affect cardiovascular health.
In a controlled study conducted by researchers from Yale and Boston universities, participants aged 18 to 45 fasted from food, caffeine, tobacco, and exercise for six hours prior to testing to ensure accurate baseline measurements. During the experiment, participants took a three to four-second puff every 30 seconds over ten minutes. Blood pressure and heart rate were then recorded ten minutes after exposure. While baseline readings were similar across users of coolant and non-coolant vapes, those who used the coolant variety showed greater increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate.
Source: Daily Express, 23 August 2025
See also: Minetti, E. et al. Cardiovascular Health Effects and Synthetic Cooling Agents in E‐Cigarettes Labeled as “Clear” Marketed in Massachusetts After the Tobacco Product Flavoring Ban. JAHA. August 2025.
Editorial note: The synthetic cooling vapes included in this study were developed in response to the 2020 Massachusetts flavour ban, which banned all non-tobacco flavoured vape products in the state of Massachusetts. It remains unclear whether the specific vapes tested in this study are currently available on the UK market.
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Canada updates adult smoking cessation guidance with new options
Canada’s Task Force on Preventive Health Care has released updated recommendations to support adults in quitting tobacco use, offering a range of evidence-based treatments that include behavioural therapies, medications, and—for the first time—cytisine.
The guideline encourages healthcare providers to assess smoking status routinely and to collaborate with patients in selecting personalised interventions. While established methods such as nicotine replacement therapies and counselling are reinforced, the guideline also introduces a role for e-cigarettes, reserved for those unable to quit by other means. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and herbal remedies are discouraged due to insufficient evidence.
Though the recommendations are comprehensive, concerns were noted regarding limited diversity in patient engagement during development. Experts stress the need for improved access to cessation tools and emphasise the critical role of clinicians in proactively addressing tobacco use.
Source: Medscape Medical News, 26 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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