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** 7 November 2025
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UK


** NHS England Chief Executive says NHS faces unprecedented financial shake-up as reforms accelerate (#1)
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** Nicotine pouch company survey shows public backs tighter controls on nicotine pouches (#2)
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** MPs call on Chancellor to increase taxes on addictive gambling products (#3)
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International


** Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission estimates the illicit tobacco trade creates $3billion loss in Australia’s tax revenue (#4)
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** American Association for Cancer Research back proposal to cut nicotine levels in cigarettes (#5)
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Links of the week


** Analysis: Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? (#6)
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** The health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England (#7)
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** University of Stirling: Young people using unregulated nicotine pouches despite health risks, research finds (#9)
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** Cochrane review: Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation (#10)
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UK


** NHS England Chief Executive says NHS faces unprecedented financial shake-up as reforms accelerate

NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Jim Mackey, has cautioned that major financial reforms planned for the next three years represent an unprecedented scale of change for the health service. The forthcoming rules will alter how Integrated Care Boards are funded, phase out deficit support, and dismantle long-standing block contracts for hospital activity in favour of new blended payment models. Mackey said the shift aims to improve accountability and ensure funding flows appropriately between hospital and community care but acknowledged that the pace of reform must be carefully managed to avoid disruption. He also expressed optimism that the government will soon resolve how to cover redundancy costs linked to national staffing reductions, estimated at around £1bn, before the Autumn Budget. Despite continued industrial action, he said the NHS remains close to meeting its waiting time targets, describing recent strike impacts as manageable.

Source: Health Service Journal, 7 November 2025
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** Nicotine pouch company survey shows public backs tighter controls on nicotine pouches

A survey carried out by the nicotine pouch company The Northerner, has reportedly found strong support among the British public for stricter regulation of nicotine pouches and tougher measures to protect young people from nicotine use.

The survey showed that 84% of respondents believe the government should introduce new rules to ensure the responsible sale and use of nicotine pouches. There was also public backing for wider government plans within the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, with 82% supporting the introduction of a licensing scheme for vape retailers.

Source: Talking Retail, 5 November 2025

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments. The article did not publish details of the survey’s sample size or methodology. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce a minimum age of sale of 18 for nicotine pouches, ban advertising, and give the government powers to regulate packaging, display, nicotine strength and flavours.
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** MPs call on Chancellor to increase taxes on addictive gambling products

A cross-party group of MPs has urged the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to raise taxes on the most harmful parts of the gambling industry, including online casino games and high-street slot machines. In a report published ahead of the upcoming budget, the Treasury select committee accused betting firms of overstating the risks of higher taxes and concealing the damage caused by addictive products behind more traditional forms of gambling. The committee argued that tax rates should reflect the level of social harm associated with each product, rejecting proposals to standardise duties across the sector.

Source: The Guardian, 7 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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International


** Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission estimates the illicit tobacco trade creates $3billion loss in Australia’s tax revenue

Australia’s Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has reported that the illicit tobacco market caused losses of roughly $3.3bn in tax revenue in 2023-24. Illicit tobacco is now thought to make up about 20% of tobacco sales in Australia. ACIC report the total economic loss, including healthcare costs and lost productivity, is estimated at $4bn annually. The Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers responded that “making cigarettes cheaper” is not the answer.

Source: The Guardian, 6 November 2025
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** American Association for Cancer Research back proposal to cut nicotine levels in cigarettes

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has endorsed a U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposal to reduce nicotine content in cigarettes and related tobacco products. The measure would limit nicotine to 0.7 milligrams per gram, around 95% lower than current levels. AACR have stressed that the policy should be paired with strong cessation support.

Source: Medical Xpress, 6 November 2025
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Links of the week


** Analysis: Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit?

Writing for Our World in Data, Hannah Ritchie, Deputy Editor and Science Outreach Lead, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about vaping and its effects.

She explores how public opinion in Britain has shifted to view vaping as equally or even more dangerous than smoking, despite strong scientific evidence to the contrary.

Over the past decade, public attitudes have turned sharply against e-cigarettes, with many smokers now believing vaping poses similar or greater risks than tobacco. Yet research continues to show that vapes expose users to far fewer toxic substances than cigarettes.

Although vapes are not risk-free and are addictive, Ritchie emphasise how vaping is considered by health experts to be a much safer option for adult smokers. Studies also indicate that e-cigarettes are the most effective tool for quitting tobacco, outperforming other nicotine replacement methods such as patches or gums.

Ritchie highlights that concerns remain about the rise of vaping among young people and non-smokers, despite national data showing that youth smoking rates continue to decline. Ritchie concludes that the key challenge for policymakers is to discourage unnecessary vaping while ensuring that smokers understand the substantial health benefits of switching from cigarettes.

Source: Our World in Data, 3 November 2025

See also: ASH - Vaping: what you need to know ([link removed]) | ASH - Vaping before, during and after pregnancy ([link removed])
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** The health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England

This report assesses the health of people in prison and discusses smoking rates and smoking cessation services.
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Read Here ([link removed])


** University of Stirling: Young people using unregulated nicotine pouches despite health risks, research finds

The Scottish Centre for Social research have conducted the first qualitative study in the UK to explore how 14-16 year olds understand and use nicotine pouches. The study found that pupils were knowledgeable about nicotine pouches and thought that they were easy to access. The study also found that experimental use was common.
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Source: University of Stirling, 6 November 2025
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** Cochrane review: Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation

This review, published by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, explores the use of electronic cigarettes, or vapes, to help people to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. The authors concluded that there was high certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes increase quit rates compared to NRT, and moderate-certainty evidence that they probably increase quit rates compared to e-cigarettes without nicotine.
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**
Source: Cochrane Library, 24 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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