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** 4 November 2025
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UK


** Imperial Brands urges retailers to engage with government call for evidence on Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#1)
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** Children to be banned from buying nicotine pouches under new tobacco laws (#2)
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International


** Heated and traditional tobacco cause similar gut and vascular damage, study shows (#3)
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** Daily vaping and failed quit attempts rise among U.S. youth, study finds (#4)
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Parliamentary activity


** Written Answers (#6)
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UK


** Imperial Brands urges retailers to engage with government call for evidence on Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Imperial Brands is calling on retailers across the UK to take part in the Government’s call for evidence on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will inform the creation of a new retail licensing system for nicotine products in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a call for evidence, Tobacco and Vapes: evidence to support legislation, open until 3 December 2025.

The consultation seeks input from retailers to ensure that upcoming regulations accurately reflect the realities of the sector. Imperial Brands’ UK Market Manager, Andrew Malm, described the initiative as a key opportunity for retailers to influence future policy.

Source: Asian Trader, 3 November 2025

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments. In their written evidence submission on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Imperial Brands called for the government to introduce a retailer licensing scheme before pursuing any other measures outlined in the Bill. This would likely mean delaying measures to reduce smoking and youth vaping by several years. You can find their written evidence submission here ([link removed]) . See also call for evidence ([link removed]) .
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** Children to be banned from buying nicotine pouches under new tobacco laws

Young people under 18 will be prohibited from purchasing nicotine pouches as part of the UK Government’s latest measures to tackle youth nicotine use. The move is included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament and proposes a generational ban preventing anyone born in or after 2009 from buying cigarettes.

Nicotine pouches - small bags placed between the lip and gum to deliver nicotine into the bloodstream - will face tighter restrictions and retailers who sell to under-18s will face fines of up to £200.

Health officials will gain powers to set maximum nicotine limits and regulate how the products are marketed. Ministers say the reforms aim to prevent a new generation from becoming addicted, noting that the currently unregulated pouches are increasingly popular among young people.

Source: Telegraph, 3 November 2025

See also: ASH - Nicotine pouches ([link removed])
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International


** Heated and traditional tobacco cause similar gut and vascular damage, study shows

New research reveals that both heated tobacco products (HTPs) and conventional cigarettes cause comparable harm to the gut and blood vessels. The study found that exposure to either type of tobacco - whether active or passive - was associated with intestinal permeability, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction.

Unlike e-cigarettes, which vaporise nicotine-containing liquids, HTPs heat real tobacco without combustion. Despite claims of reduced harm, results showed that both adults who smoked or used HTPs and children exposed to second-hand emissions exhibited elevated levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a marker of endotoxemia linked to inflammation and vascular injury. In both groups, higher LPS correlated with weakened gut barrier integrity, reduced antioxidant capacity, and impaired nitric oxide function - all indicators of cardiovascular risk.

The findings challenge industry assertions that HTPs are a safer alternative to smoking, suggesting instead that they could trigger the same biological pathways responsible for oxidative and vascular damage.

The authors acknowledge that the study had several limitations, including a small sample size and a lack of data about prior smoking among HTP users which could have confounded the results.

Source: News-Medical, 3 November 2025

See also: Loffredo, L., et al. Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Oxidative Stress: The Role of Circulating Lipopolysaccharides in Heated and Conventional Products. Antioxidants. 2025. 14(11), 1316. DOI: 10.3390/antiox14111316, [link removed]
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** Daily vaping and failed quit attempts rise among U.S. youth, study finds

A new study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California has revealed an increase in nicotine dependence among young Americans who vape. Although overall youth vaping rates have fallen since 2019, those who continue to use e-cigarettes are becoming more addicted and struggling to quit.

Researchers analysed survey data from more than 115,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12 collected between 2020 and 2024. They found that the proportion of current users who vaped every day nearly doubled from 15.4% to 28.8%. Among daily users, failed quit attempts rose sharply - from 28.2% in 2020 to 53% in 2024 - indicating a significant increase in nicotine dependence.

Lead author Dr Abbey Masonbrink said the findings highlight an urgent need for improved prevention and cessation programmes. Expanding access to effective treatments, such as nicotine-dependence medications, and educating young people about their options could help address what experts describe as an escalating public health concern.

Source: News-Medical, 3 November 2025

See also: Masonbrink, A. R., et al. Trends in Daily Nicotine Vaping and Unsuccessful Quit Attempts in Youths. JAMA Network Open. 2025 doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.41061
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Parliamentary activity


** Written Answers

Asked by Richard Holden, Shadow Transport Secretary, Conservative, Basildon and Billericay

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to educate consumers about less harmful alternatives to smoking.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire

The health advice is clear that whilst vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been carefully designed to get this balance right, ensuring we take definitive action to tackle youth vaping, whilst ensuring that vapes, alongside other forms of quit aids, remain accessible to adult smokers.

The Government has published a comprehensive impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which includes the health benefits and the impact on people who vape currently. This assessment was reviewed in full by the Regulatory Policy Committee, which deemed it ‘fit for purpose’ in its published opinion on 5 November 2024.

Importantly, the bill introduces a progressive age of sale policy for tobacco, the smoke-free generation policy, and also includes policies that further restrict the sale and appeal of tobacco products. This will have a dissuasive effect on consumers considering tobacco products, which will mitigate any potential risks of people that vape returning to tobacco use.

Tobacco duty will also be increased alongside the upcoming vaping products duty to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking.

To support current smokers to quit, we are providing £70 million of additional funding into local stop smoking services and delivering Tobacco Dependency Treatment through National Health Service inpatient and maternity services. These services provide access to a range of medicines, nicotine replacement therapies, and vapes, alongside behavioural support. Vapes are a popular quit aid among adult smokers and we have commissioned guidance from the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training to maximise their use and ensure practitioners are trained to deliver the best advice.

Our national public health marketing campaigns, such as Stoptober and our annual campaigns, motivate adults to quit smoking. Public health messaging will continue to educate smokers about smoking quit aids and will support the promotion of vapes as a means for adult smokers to quit smoking, as outlined on the Better Health and NHS websites.
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** Asked by Richard Holden, Shadow Transport Secretary, Conservative, Basildon and Billericay

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what evidential basis his Department has assessed the public health implications of (a) the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and (b) encouraging the use of less harmful alternatives to tobacco.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire

The health advice is clear that whilst vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been carefully designed to get this balance right, ensuring we take definitive action to tackle youth vaping, whilst ensuring that vapes, alongside other forms of quit aids, remain accessible to adult smokers.

The Government has published a comprehensive impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which includes the health benefits and the impact on people who vape currently. This assessment was reviewed in full by the Regulatory Policy Committee, which deemed it ‘fit for purpose’ in its published opinion on 5 November 2024.

Importantly, the bill introduces a progressive age of sale policy for tobacco, the smoke-free generation policy, and also includes policies that further restrict the sale and appeal of tobacco products. This will have a dissuasive effect on consumers considering tobacco products, which will mitigate any potential risks of people that vape returning to tobacco use.

Tobacco duty will also be increased alongside the upcoming vaping products duty to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking.

To support current smokers to quit, we are providing £70 million of additional funding into local stop smoking services and delivering Tobacco Dependency Treatment through National Health Service inpatient and maternity services. These services provide access to a range of medicines, nicotine replacement therapies, and vapes, alongside behavioural support. Vapes are a popular quit aid among adult smokers and we have commissioned guidance from the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training to maximise their use and ensure practitioners are trained to deliver the best advice.

Our national public health marketing campaigns, such as Stoptober and our annual campaigns, motivate adults to quit smoking. Public health messaging will continue to educate smokers about smoking quit aids and will support the promotion of vapes as a means for adult smokers to quit smoking, as outlined on the Better Health and NHS websites.
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Read Here ([link removed])


** Asked by Richard Holden, Shadow Transport Secretary, Conservative, Basildon and Billericay

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the risk of vapers returning to traditional cigarettes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire

The health advice is clear that whilst vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been carefully designed to get this balance right, ensuring we take definitive action to tackle youth vaping, whilst ensuring that vapes, alongside other forms of quit aids, remain accessible to adult smokers.

The Government has published a comprehensive impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which includes the health benefits and the impact on people who vape currently. This assessment was reviewed in full by the Regulatory Policy Committee, which deemed it ‘fit for purpose’ in its published opinion on 5 November 2024.

Importantly, the bill introduces a progressive age of sale policy for tobacco, the smoke-free generation policy, and also includes policies that further restrict the sale and appeal of tobacco products. This will have a dissuasive effect on consumers considering tobacco products, which will mitigate any potential risks of people that vape returning to tobacco use.

Tobacco duty will also be increased alongside the upcoming vaping products duty to maintain the financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking.

To support current smokers to quit, we are providing £70 million of additional funding into local stop smoking services and delivering Tobacco Dependency Treatment through National Health Service inpatient and maternity services. These services provide access to a range of medicines, nicotine replacement therapies, and vapes, alongside behavioural support. Vapes are a popular quit aid among adult smokers and we have commissioned guidance from the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training to maximise their use and ensure practitioners are trained to deliver the best advice.

Our national public health marketing campaigns, such as Stoptober and our annual campaigns, motivate adults to quit smoking. Public health messaging will continue to educate smokers about smoking quit aids and will support the promotion of vapes as a means for adult smokers to quit smoking, as outlined on the Better Health and NHS websites.
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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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