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Chancellor weighs alcohol duty rise amid fiscal pressures and industry pushback
The Chancellor is reported to be assessing a further increase in alcohol duties, potentially matching the latest retail prices index figure. Duties increased by 3.6% last year in line with RPI inflation, which equated to an increase in the price of a bottle of wine by 54p. The move has led to lobbying from drinks producers and hospitality against any rise in tax.
Source: City A.M., 13 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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Andy Burnham raises concerns over plans to dismantle Healthwatch
Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham is preparing to caution the Health Secretary about government proposals to dissolve the national and local bodies that gather patients’ views on health and social care, Healthwatch. Regional leaders argue that the existing network provides an impartial channel through which communities, including under-represented groups, can influence NHS decision-making. Although the government intends for councils and integrated care boards to take on these duties, critics fear that absorbing the functions into official structures will weaken public trust and reduce scrutiny during a period of major NHS reform. Ministers maintain that restructuring will streamline a complex system and ensure feedback reaches those responsible more directly.
Source: PoliticsHome, 13 November 2025
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Veterinary experts highlight risk of second-hand smoke exposure on household pets
UK veterinary professionals are urging owners to limit their animals’ exposure to cigarette smoke and vaping products, warning that both inhalation and accidental ingestion can cause serious illness. Evidence from recent case reviews shows that pets can suffer anything from mild stomach upset to life-threatening poisoning after contact with e-liquids or discarded vaping devices. Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke is also linked to a range of health problems, including respiratory disease, heart conditions and certain cancers. Vets advise maintaining smoke-free spaces, improving ventilation and keeping all nicotine products securely stored to reduce preventable harm.
Source: News from Wales, 13 November 2025
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Tobacco industry marketing targets young people in Pakistan
Tobacco industry marketing is targeting young people in Pakistan, evidenced through the marketing of vaping devices and other nicotine products which have enticing flavours, low prices, and easy availability near schools and in city markets. A 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey showed that over 10% of teenagers aged 13-15 used some form of tobacco product in Pakistan (this figure does not include vaping products).
Source: The Tribune, 14 November 2025
Editorial note: The article conflates tobacco products (smoked and smokeless) with nicotine vapes and pouches which do not contain tobacco. The most recent Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that 6.8% of 13-15 year olds in Pakistan used tobacco products in 2022, down from 10% in 2019, while 3.1% of were current users of e-cigarettes (vapes).
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Global tobacco summit to examine environmental damage of cigarette litter
International delegates meeting at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, will be considering eliminating cigarette filters, citing their vast contribution to global plastic pollution and the fact they offer no health protection to smokers. The gathering will also assess the growing environmental burden of discarded butts and the increase in youth use of e-cigarettes, which are increasingly marketed with features designed to appeal to younger audiences. WHO representatives warn that the industry is intensifying lobbying efforts and attempting to disrupt policy discussions, even as millions of preventable deaths each year are linked to tobacco use. Delegates from nearly all treaty signatories are expected to debate stricter advertising bans, stronger safeguards against industry interference.
Source: RFI, 14 November 2025
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Dutch hospitals track rise in emergency cases linked to nicotine use
Hospitals in the Netherlands have begun a nationwide, single-day assessment to measure how many patients require urgent treatment due to smoking, vaping or the use of oral nicotine products. The findings, expected within weeks, will inform future efforts aimed at reducing nicotine-related harm.
Source: Dutch News, 13 November 2025
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Committee Stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
Transcript from the fifth day of Committee stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
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Written Answers
Asked by Dr Caroline Johnson MP, Conservative, Sleaford and North Hykeham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made with the Secretary of State for Education of the potential merits of using geofence technology to tackle the use of vaping devices by children in schools.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
It is concerning that youth vaping has more than doubled in the last five years and that one in four children aged between 11 and 15 years old tried vaping in 2023. That is why we are committed to bringing about definitive and positive change to stop future generations from becoming hooked on nicotine. To do this, we are acting to reduce the appeal, availability, and accessibility of these products to children whilst not impacting on their use as a quit aid for adult smokers.
The Government’s policy, as set out in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, is that all products are age verified at the point of sale rather than the point of use.
We are examining the role of certain technology in vapes as part of our secondary legislation programme, and we are currently running a call for evidence on vapes which explores this area, and which we would encourage stakeholders to respond to. In addition, next year we will run a consultation on introducing smoke-free and vape-free places, restrictions on vape packaging, and on changing how and where vapes are displayed in shops.
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Asked by Dr Caroline Johnson MP, Conservative, Sleaford and North Hykeham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using technology within vapes to verify the age of vape users.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
It is concerning that youth vaping has more than doubled in the last five years and that one in four children aged between 11 and 15 years old tried vaping in 2023. That is why we are committed to bringing about definitive and positive change to stop future generations from becoming hooked on nicotine. To do this, we are acting to reduce the appeal, availability, and accessibility of these products to children whilst not impacting on their use as a quit aid for adult smokers.
The Government’s policy, as set out in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, is that all products are age verified at the point of sale rather than the point of use.
We are examining the role of certain technology in vapes as part of our secondary legislation programme, and we are currently running a call for evidence on vapes which explores this area, and which we would encourage stakeholders to respond to. In addition, next year we will run a consultation on introducing smoke-free and vape-free places, restrictions on vape packaging, and on changing how and where vapes are displayed in shops.
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Asked by Martin Wrigley, Liberal Democrat, Newton Abbot
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring vape liquid and vapes to be sold separately.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
The Government is currently exploring a range of topics related to vaping and nicotine products.
On 8 October, we launched a call for evidence which examines the size and shape of vapes, vape-like devices and tanks, the components of vaping products, as well as the role of technology in these devices. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/tobacco-and-vapes-evidence-to-support-legislation/tobacco-and-vapes-evidence-to-support-legislation(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs banned the sale and supply of single use vapes due to the harm that they cause to the environment on 1 June 2025. They will continue to monitor the impact of these changes to ensure that they have the desired positive environmental impact.
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Asked by Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat, Epsom and Ewell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will publish the date for the planned full rollout targeted lung screening as recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for lung cancer. The NHS is currently rolling out the National Lung Cancer Screening Programme to people with a history of smoking.
The timescale for full implementation of the lung cancer screening programme, alongside further 10-Year Health Plan initiatives, will be specified in due course.
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Asked by Jack Rankin, Conservative, Windsor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to (a) reduce and (b) freeze tobacco excise duty.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Chipping Barnet
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government renewed the commitment to a tobacco duty escalator, which increases duty by 2 per cent above RPI inflation at each Budget, until the end of the current Parliament. This is part of the Government’s focus on health prevention and to continue our drive to reduce smoking prevalence.
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Asked by Jack Rankin, Conservative, Windsor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the tobacco excise regime on smoking prevalence since 2021.
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 make tobacco less affordable and 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. The ONS survey on adult smoking habits 2023 can be found here: Adult smoking habits in the UK - Office for National Statistics
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Asked by Jack Rankin, Conservative, Windsor
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Budget Responsibility has made an assessment of the potential impact of levels of tobacco duty on smoking prevalence statistics.
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 make tobacco less affordable and 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. The ONS survey on adult smoking habits 2023 can be found here: Adult smoking habits in the UK - Office for National Statistics
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Should a smoke-free generation also be vape-free?
In this article in the BMJ, Charles Ebikeme discusses the position on vaping in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill with a range of health experts. Many of the experts, including ASH CEO Hazel Cheeseman, explain that vaping should not be included in the smoke-free generation policy due to its role in smoking cessation, but tighter regulations are needed on marketing, so they are not targeted at children or people who have never smoked.
Source: British Medical Journal, 11 November 2025
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E-Cigarette Summit 2025
The E-Cigarette Summit returns to the Royal College of Physicians on 5th December. The Summit combines high-level presentations with interactive panel discussions led by global independent experts, offering a unique chance to engage in insightful debates and review the latest evidence on nicotine use, vaping, and smoking.
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Webinar: Smoking Cessation Services for People with Serious Mental Illness: A rapid evaluation
In this webinar Dr Jennifer Newbould, Senior Research Leader at RAND Europe and member of the Executive and Co-PPIE Lead for BRACE (The Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Evaluation Centre), will introduce the BRACE study, a rapid evaluation of NHS England’s stop smoking services for people with severe mental illness. The webinar will take place on Tuesday 9th December.
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Institute of Alcohol Studies: A Healthier Future: A long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK.
Developed by leading experts, this report sets out a blueprint for halving risky drinking, reducing alcohol deaths, and expanding access to treatment.
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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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