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** 1 October 2025
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UK


** Unhealthy food multibuy offers banned in England (#1)
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** Freedom Association claims poll shows Scots doubtful over Labour’s generational smoking ban (#2)
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** ASH Chair publishes letter in the BMJ stressing the association between smoking and osteoporosis (#3)
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** Experts warn NHS 10 year health plan lacks clarity and risks failing without major changes (#4)
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** NHS to roll out virtual hospital service in England to cut waiting times (#5)
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International


** Public health experts call for drastic cuts to tobacco availability in Australia (#6)
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UK


** Unhealthy food multibuy offers banned in England

Rules have come into force in England preventing supermarkets, large shops and online retailers from offering multibuy discounts and free drink refills on products high in sugar, salt or fat. The change is part of a wider strategy to tackle rising obesity levels, particularly among children, and will be followed by restrictions on advertising unhealthy food before the watershed and online from next year.

Public health leaders welcomed the move, noting that obesity remains a major cause of health inequality. Greg Fell, president of the Association of Public Health Directors, said the measure was “long overdue” and argued that “multi-buy promotions do not save people money – in fact, they encourage them to spend more.” While some retailers had already adopted similar practices, Fell stated he hoped the new rules will push the retailers further towards promoting healthier products. Wales and Scotland are set to introduce comparable restrictions in the coming years.

Source: BBC News, 1 October 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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** Freedom Association claims poll shows Scots doubtful over Labour’s generational smoking ban

A new survey conducted by Whitestone Insight for the Freedom Association suggests Labour risks losing support in Scotland over its plan to phase out tobacco sales for anyone born after 2008. According to the poll, one in five Scots said they would be less likely to vote Labour if the policy is implemented. The poll found that 57% of Scots support the ban, compared to 36% opposed. The Freedom Association argue that many doubt its practicality, with only 34% saying it is workable. According to the poll, 40% of respondents “agreed that the ban would cause a lot more trouble than it is worth, cost the Government many millions of pounds in lost tax revenue and should be abandoned now”, compared to 35% who disagreed.

Source: Asian Trader, 30 September 2025

Editorial note: The article does not include details about the question wording, sample size or survey methodology. The Freedom Association ([link removed]) is a British libertarian campaign group who have previously campaigned against tobacco control measures such as plain packaging. They do not declare their funding sources and it is unclear if they have received tobacco industry funding.

Annual polling by YouGov for ASH shows overwhelming support for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill across Britain, including in Scotland. In 2024, YouGov found that 69% of Scottish adults supported the generational smoking ban, compared to 12% opposed (19% responded “Don’t know/Neither support nor oppose”).

See also: ASH. Support for Stopping the Start: Local retailers and the public back smokefree generation laws. ([link removed]) April 2024.
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** ASH Chair publishes letter in the BMJ stressing the association between smoking and osteoporosis

ASH Chair, Professor Nick Hopkinson has published a letter in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) explaining the association between smoking and osteoporosis, in response to an article published about osteoporosis that did not mention smoking. Prof Hopkinson highlights the importance of addressing smoking as a risk factor to ensure that people with osteoporosis are treated effectively, and because failures to address smoking drive health inequalities.

Source: The BMJ,1 September 2025
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** Experts warn NHS 10 year health plan lacks clarity and risks failing without major changes

Members of the BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS argue that England’s 10 year health plan sets out ambitious goals but provides little detail on how they will be delivered. While the strategy promotes shifting care into communities, expanding digital services, and focusing more on prevention, experts highlight that evidence for cost savings is weak and practical barriers such as estates, workforce shortages, and funding remain unresolved.

Concerns include the risk of undermining continuity of GP care through large-scale neighbourhood models, unrealistic expectations of digital tools, and insufficient focus on equity and health inequalities. Experts stress the need for co-design with patients, communities, and NHS staff, alongside stronger investment, clear priorities, and cross-sector action to address health disparities.

Source: BMJ, 30 September 2025
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** NHS to roll out virtual hospital service in England to cut waiting times

The government is set to launch a digital hospital service in England within two years, aiming to expand virtual care and ease pressure on waiting lists. Patients opting in will be managed by dedicated doctors, with consultations, follow-ups and monitoring carried out online through the NHS app. The scheme is expected to deliver up to 8.5 million appointments in its first three years, particularly in specialties such as eye care, gynaecology and digestive health.

Ministers say the service will improve convenience and free up in-person appointments for those who need them. Successful pilots, including virtual follow-ups for bowel disease in Southampton and digital referrals at Moorfields Eye Hospital, have shown reduced waiting times and improved efficiency.

Source: BBC News, 30 September 2025
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International


** Public health experts call for drastic cuts to tobacco availability in Australia

Public health leaders, including Australian National University professor Raglan Maddox and experts from Cancer Council New South Wales, are urging governments to curb the accessibility of cigarettes by reducing the number of outlets permitted to sell them, with some calling for shops to be shut altogether. They argue that tobacco should be treated like other harmful products previously phased out, such as asbestos.

They warn that widespread retail availability makes quitting more difficult, while the scale of tobacco-related deaths highlights the urgency of stronger regulation. Experts insist that tougher laws are needed to align policy with public expectations and to reduce harm for future generations.

Source: Daily Mail, 30 September 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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