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** 7 October 2025
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UK


** Study to track long-term effects of vaping on ex-smokers (#1)
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International


** WHO report says teen vaping rates outstrip adult use (#2)
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** Europe overtakes Southeast Asia with highest global smoking rates (#3)
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** Japan Tobacco focuses on budget cigarettes as rivals push smoke-free future (#4)
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** Imperial Brands relies on vapes and heated tobacco to revive slowing growth (#5)
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** Japan Tobacco International’s investigators track illegal cigarette trade in Dublin (#6)
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** Cigarette-smuggling balloons force shutdown of Lithuanian airport (#7)
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UK


** Study to track long-term effects of vaping on ex-smokers

A new study in Birmingham is set to examine how vaping affects the lungs and immune system of former smokers over time. Funded with £1.55 million from the Medical Research Council, the project will recruit around 200 people from NHS stop-smoking services, dividing them between traditional nicotine replacement therapies and e-cigarettes. Their results will be compared with a group of people who have never smoked or vaped. The research aims to clarify how vaping influences lung cells, inflammation, and toxin levels.

Source: BBC News, 7 October 2025
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International


** WHO report says teen vaping rates outstrip adult use

The World Health Organisation has reported that teenagers aged 13 to 15 are vaping at rates nearly nine times higher than adults globally. Around 100 million people worldwide now use e-cigarettes, including about 15 million young people. The organisation urged stronger regulation of marketing aimed at young people and called for governments to act swiftly to prevent further increases in youth vaping. Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), explained that the uptake in popularity of vapes has “largely been due to their use as a quit aid in smoking” but in recent years “vaping has increased among teenagers and this needs urgent action”. Cheeseman explains that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will prevent the marketing of vapes towards children but ensure vapes remain available to adults for use as a smoking cessation aid.

Source: The Independent, 6 October 2025

See also: WHO Tobacco Trends Report PR ([link removed]) | WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-24 and projections 2025-2030 ([link removed]) | ASH – Use of vapes among young people in Great Britain ([link removed])
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** Europe overtakes Southeast Asia with highest global smoking rates

New figures from the World Health Organisation show that Europe now has the world’s highest proportion of tobacco users, with nearly a quarter (24.1%) of people aged 15 and over smoking. Although smoking rates have fallen since 2000, progress in Europe has been slower than in other regions, where prevalence has fallen from almost 35% in 2000. Use has dropped sharply in Southeast Asia, where tobacco consumption has fallen from 54% in 2000 to just over 23% in 2020. European officials are planning tougher taxation and regulation.

Source: Politico, 6 October 2025

See also: WHO Tobacco Trends Report PR ([link removed]) and WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-24 and projections 2025-2030 ([link removed])

Our World in Data: Smoking rates vary a lot across Western Europe. ([link removed]) This data includes all tobacco use, not just smoking.

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** Japan Tobacco focuses on budget cigarettes as rivals push smoke-free future

Japan Tobacco is strengthening its position in the traditional cigarette market, expanding its portfolio of low-cost brands in response to growing demand from price-sensitive smokers. Following its acquisition of Vector Group in the United States, the company expects cheaper products to account for a large share of sales within the next few years. While competitors such as Philip Morris and British American Tobacco are shifting investment toward smoke-free products, Japan Tobacco International continues to prioritise combustible cigarettes in key markets including Europe, the U.S., and Asia. Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health explained that she “hoped emerging markets with rising smoking rates would introduce more policies to limit tobacco consumption” but JTI are “clearly betting in the other direction” and “see themselves as a cigarette company in the future.”

Source: The Japan Times, 4 October 2025

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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** Imperial Brands relies on vapes and heated tobacco to revive slowing growth

Imperial Brands has reported that rising sales of vapes and heated tobacco devices in the United States, Germany and Australia are helping to offset weaker performance in the UK and Spain. The company, which claims to be shifting away from traditional tobacco products, said its long-term strategy aims to strengthen its position as a consumer-focused business while expanding its range of next generation products. These include vaping devices, heated tobacco systems and nicotine pouches. The group also announced a major share buyback plan and confirmed it is reviewing the future of one of its factories in Germany as part of efforts to streamline operations.

Source: The Business Desk, 7 October 2025

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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** Japan Tobacco International’s investigators track illegal cigarette trade in Dublin

A private team funded by Japan Tobacco International has been conducting surveillance operations across Dublin in an effort to identify sellers of illegal cigarettes and tobacco. The investigators, who have no powers of arrest, gather evidence from street vendors and online sellers, passing their findings to Revenue and gardaí. JTI’s global head of anti-illicit trade says the illegal supply chain is largely controlled by organised crime groups.

Source: The Irish Times, 7 October 2025

Editorial note: This investigation was carried out by a tobacco industry funded-team from Japan Tobacco International ([link removed]) . Despite their historical complicity in smuggling, tobacco companies have a long history of presenting themselves as partners in tackling the illicit trade and often seek to collaborate with governments and enforcement agencies. However, manufacturers have little incentive to address the illicit trade, instead using partnerships to rehabilitate their public image, undermine enforcement efforts, and gain commercial advantage over competitors. For example, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) recently launched a campaign ([link removed]) urging the government to take stronger action against illegal tobacco and offering support to retailers to reduce illicit sales. As well as presenting JTI as a concerned partner in the fight against
illicit tobacco, the campaign clearly furthers their lobbying strategy, providing a website that urges ([link removed]) MPs to meet with the company and a template ([link removed]) letter that members of the public can send to their MP expressing concern.

See also: ASH blog: From Smuggling to spin: how tobacco giants hijacked the illicit trade debate ([link removed])
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** Cigarette-smuggling balloons force shutdown of Lithuanian airport

Flights at Vilnius Airport were temporarily halted after dozens of balloons carrying illicit cigarettes drifted into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. Authorities detected 25 balloons over the weekend, with two flying directly above the capital’s airport, prompting a shutdown that cancelled 30 flights and affected around 6,000 passengers. Border guards later recovered 11 of the balloons, which were carrying a total of 18,000 packs of illegal cigarettes.

Officials said the use of weather balloons to smuggle tobacco from Belarus into Lithuania, Latvia and Poland has become increasingly common because they are inexpensive compared with drones.

Source: BBC News, 6 October 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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