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** 5 November 2025
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UK


** ONS data shows more Britons now vape than smoke (#1)
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** Scottish government explore tobacco minimum pricing (#2)
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** Comment: Government moves to ban nicotine pouch sale to under 18s (#3)
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** Retailers raise concerns about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#4)
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** Research shows mandatory food warning labels could help tackle obesity crisis (#5)
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** BBC investigation exposes criminal network using mini-marts to sell illicit cigarettes and vapes (#6)
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International


** Australia: Sydney stores shut as New South Wales enforces new laws on illicit tobacco and vapes (#7)
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Parliamentary activity


** Written Answers (#8)
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UK


** ONS data shows more Britons now vape than smoke

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that vaping overtook smoking among adults in Great Britain for the first time in 2024, with 5.4 million people using e-cigarettes compared with 4.9 million smokers. The ONS found vaping to be most common among 25 to 49-year-olds, particularly women, while cigarette use continues its long-term decline. The figures show that 6.7% of people aged 16 or over use a vape every day, an increase from 5.9% in 2023.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), welcomed the fall in smoking but warned that many long-term smokers remain trapped in a cycle of addiction. Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of ASH, commented that concerns remain about young people and non-smokers taking up vaping. The findings come as the UK government advances the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008 and tighten rules on the sale and marketing of vapes and other nicotine products.

Source: BBC News, 4 November 2025

Editorial note: The data in the article is taken from the Opinion and Lifestyle Survey (OPN). The OPN smoking prevalence estimate is slightly lower than the Annual Population Survey (APS) due to methodological differences and refers to GB rather than the UK. The APS is used as the official measure of smoking prevalence in England, used to monitor progress towards the UK government's target of achieving a smokefree England by 2030.

APS data shows that around 5.3 million people aged 18 years and over (10.6%) smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2024. This compares to 11.1% in 2023 and is the lowest proportion of current smokers since records began.

See also: ONS - Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2024. ([link removed])

ASH- Press Release- Fall in smoking means more people now vape than smoke ([link removed])
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** Scottish government explore tobacco minimum pricing

The Scottish government is examining whether to introduce a minimum pricing scheme for cigarettes and rolling tobacco. The cost of cigarettes would rise to at least £16, with an 80p minimum price per cigarette, and a 30g pouch of tobacco would cost £48. The plan, modelled on the country’s alcohol pricing policy, aims to cut smoking rates and reduce pressure on the NHS. Public Health Scotland research suggests the approach could lead to over 16,000 people quitting smoking in the next 10 years.

Source: The Times, 4 November 2025
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** Comment: Government moves to ban nicotine pouch sale to under 18s

In an opinion piece in The Independent, Charlotte Cripps, Senior Culture Writer at The Independent, discusses the news of nicotine pouch sales being banned to under-18s and raises concerns over youth use. Currently, there is no age of sale for nicotine pouches, but the incoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will prohibit the sale of the pouches to under 18s and introduce restrictions on marketing and nicotine strength. Cripps highlights data from Action on Smoking and Health showing that in 2024, 38% of 11-17 year olds were aware of nicotine pouches, which is now at 43%. Cripps also raises concerns that nicotine pouches are often sold in brightly packaged tins and contain high levels of nicotine.

Source: The Independent, 5 November 2025

Editorial note: According to YouGov survey data commissioned by ASH, nearly 4% (3.8%) of 11-17 year olds say they’ve tried nicotine pouches, which amounts to approximately 210,000 children. Awareness of nicotine pouches has increased among children 11-17, rising from 38% in 2024 to 43% in 2025.

For more information see the ASH webpage on nicotine pouches. ([link removed])
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** Retailers raise concerns about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill

This article in Asian Trader interviews retailers and argues that shop owners across the UK broadly back a national licensing scheme but insist it must be fair and simple to enforce. Some retailers suggest linking tobacco licences to the existing alcohol licensing regime. Retailers also express concerns about illicit tobacco and vapes and the enforcement of the generational smoking ban.

Source: Asian Trader, 4 November 2025
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** Editorial note: Independent research commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that most small retailers support the UK Government’s proposals ([link removed]) in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Of 900 small tobacco retailers surveyed, 51% backed the proposed age of sale legislation - almost twice the number opposed (26%).

The findings reflect a broader shift in the retail landscape. Footfall driven by tobacco purchases has declined significantly ([link removed]) , falling by nearly 40% in under a decade. In 2015, tobacco was part of 21% of transactions; by 2022, research from the University of Edinburgh found this had dropped to just 12.8%.

Retailers also benefit little from tobacco sales. While tobacco remains highly profitable for manufacturers, it yields low margins for shop owners ([link removed]) - just 8.5% on average, compared to 21% across all products and 37.1% for vaping products.
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** Research shows mandatory food warning labels could help tackle obesity crisis

Researchers from the University of Liverpool have found that compulsory warning labels on foods high in fat, salt, or sugar could prevent more than 100,000 obesity-related deaths in England over the next 20 years. Their modelling suggests that front-of-pack alerts, already used in countries such as Chile, Mexico, and Canada, would significantly reduce obesity rates and encourage healthier eating habits. The study’s authors and public health specialists are urging the UK government to adopt the measure as part of its obesity strategy, warning that voluntary schemes such as the traffic light system are insufficient.

Source: The Independent, 4 November 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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** BBC investigation exposes criminal network using mini-marts to sell illicit cigarettes and vapes

A BBC investigation has uncovered a network of Kurdish individuals in the UK who facilitate illegal employment in mini-marts across the country, often making profits selling illicit cigarettes and vapes. Ghost directors, individuals who appear on official company records without actively managing businesses, enable asylum seekers to run shops. The network spans more than 100 businesses and repeatedly dissolves and re-registers companies under slightly altered details to evade scrutiny. Authorities, including the Home Office and Trading Standards, have begun investigations.

Source: BBC, 5 November 2025

See also: ASH- Illicit tobacco: facts, trends and industry tactics ([link removed])
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International


** Australia: Sydney stores shut as New South Wales enforces new laws on illicit tobacco and vapes

Authorities in New South Wales have closed two shops on Sydney’s north shore under newly introduced laws aimed at curbing the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products. Health inspectors confiscated illicit cigarettes and vapes during the raids, which mark the first use of powers allowing temporary closures of up to 90 days.

Source: The Guardian, 4 November 2025
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Parliamentary activity


** Written Answers

Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the tobacco duty escalator on inflation.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Chipping Barnet

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for estimating the impact of Government policies on inflation. The OBR did not include an assessment on the contribution of tobacco excise duty to inflation in either the October 2024 or March 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

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** Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of tobacco excise in reducing smoking prevalence.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Chipping Barnet

Tobacco duty aims to both raise revenue and reduce harm to public health by discouraging smoking. High duty rates, making tobacco less affordable, are a proven way to reduce smoking prevalence and have helped reduce the percentage of adult smokers in the UK from 26% in 2000 to 11.9% in 2023. As set out in the ONS survey on adult smoking habits 2023.

Adult smoking habits in the UK - Office for National Statistics(opens in a new tab) ([link removed])

The commitment to a tobacco duty escalator which increases duty at RPI+2% inflation at each Budget was renewed at Autumn Budget 2024 until the end of the current Parliament. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside the Budget setting out the impacts

Changes to tobacco duty rates from 30 October 2024 - GOV.UK ([link removed])
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** Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of tobacco excise duty on smoking prevalence.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Chipping Barnet

Tobacco duty aims to both raise revenue and reduce harm to public health by discouraging smoking. High duty rates, making tobacco less affordable, are a proven way to reduce smoking prevalence and have helped reduce the percentage of adult smokers in the UK from 26% in 2000 to 11.9% in 2023. As set out in the ONS survey on adult smoking habits 2023.

Adult smoking habits in the UK - Office for National Statistics(opens in a new tab) ([link removed])

The commitment to a tobacco duty escalator which increases duty at RPI+2% inflation at each Budget was renewed at Autumn Budget 2024 until the end of the current Parliament. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside the Budget setting out the impacts.

Changes to tobacco duty rates from 30 October 2024 - GOV.UK ([link removed])
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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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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