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** 20 November 2025
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UK


** Chancellor set to increase tobacco and vaping taxes in upcoming budget (#1)
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** Opinion: Improving public health is key to Britain’s economic recovery (#2)
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** Vape retailers survey shows that fruit and mint flavours dominate UK vape sales (#3)
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International


** NGOs urge EU unity on tobacco control at COP11 (#4)
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** Irish government approves plans to ban single-use vapes (#5)
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** Belgium set to restrict vape flavours to curb youth use (#6)
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UK


** Chancellor set to increase tobacco and vaping taxes in upcoming budget

The UK government is set to increase tobacco duties in the upcoming budget, following the standard annual rise under the tobacco duty escalator. Cigarette taxes are likely to increase by the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate plus an additional 2%, while duties on hand-rolling tobacco could rise by RPI plus 10%.

Vaping products are also expected to face a new levy of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid from October 2026.

Additional tax changes under consideration in the budget include higher levies on gambling and the potential removal of the temporary fuel duty cut. Final decisions will be announced in the budget on 26 November.

Source: The Sun, 19 November 2025
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** Opinion: Improving public health is key to Britain’s economic recovery

In this opinion piece, Peter Babudu, executive director of Impact on Urban Health., argues that the government’s search for economic growth will falter unless it tackles the country’s deteriorating health. He highlights how preventable illness keeps people out of work, strains the NHS and undermines productivity, with the burden falling heaviest on those in poverty and minority communities.

Babudu points to everyday factors such as housing conditions, debt, access to nutritious food and air quality as major drivers of ill health, and says reforms in these areas would deliver long-term economic benefits. He welcomes recent steps on children’s nutrition, including expanded free school meals, the Soft Drinks Levy, and the introduction of the new Healthy Food Standard which mandates healthy food sales for large companies, and calls for a broader levy to encourage healthier food manufacturing.

The piece concludes that sustainable growth depends on creating healthier living conditions, reducing inequalities and preventing illness, rather than treating health as a secondary concern.

Source: The Big Issue, 20 November 2025
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** Vape retailers survey shows that fruit and mint flavours dominate UK vape sales

According to vape retailer Haypp, since the ban on disposable vapes in June, fruit-flavoured vapes have made up just over 30% of sales, followed by fruit mint hybrid (24%) and mint flavour (21%) sales. They report that less than one in ten vapes sold are either unflavoured or tobacco only.

Source: The Grocer, 19 November 2025 [Paywall]

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.

See also:
Vaping: what you need to kn ([link removed]) ow ([link removed]) - ASH
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International


** NGOs urge EU unity on tobacco control at COP11

The Smoke-Free Partnership, a coalition of over 60 tobacco control NGOs, are calling on EU member states to present a united front at COP11 on tobacco control. Several countries, including Italy, Greece, Slovakia, Czechia, Romania and Bulgaria, have resisted agreeing to a strong bloc position, citing concerns that non-binding measures could affect the upcoming revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and infringe on national competences.

Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, proposed not to take a position on certain measures, resulting in the EU abstaining on those elements during the negotiations.

As a result, the EU entered the negotiations without a common stance, limiting its ability to negotiate as a bloc. The NGOs warn that divisions benefit the tobacco industry and weaken the bloc’s global influence.

Source: Euractiv, 18 November 2025 [Paywall]
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** Irish government approves plans to ban single-use vapes

The Irish government has agreed to publish legislation that would prohibit the sale of disposable vapes and introduce new regulations on other nicotine products, following similar restrictions introduced in Northern Ireland earlier this year.

The planned law would set out rules on the packaging, flavouring and in-store presentation of nicotine-inhaling products, ban the sale of items such as nicotine pouches to under-18s, and prevent retailers from advertising these goods on their premises.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said the package is intended to protect children from developing a nicotine addiction, to reduce the attractiveness and availability of nicotine products to young people, and to ensure regulation keeps pace with new market developments. Ministers have said that they want to implement the measures as quickly as possible.

Source: BBC News, 19 November 2025
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** Belgium set to restrict vape flavours to curb youth use

Belgium is preparing to limit e-cigarette flavours to tobacco only, after expert advisers called for tighter rules to stem rising nicotine use among young people. The country’s health authority has shifted to supporting a broad restriction, arguing that flavourings play a major role in drawing children toward vaping.

Recent figures indicate a marked increase in experimentation and regular use among school-age pupils, prompting the government to accelerate action. Although no introduction date has been set, the health minister wants the measure implemented quickly.

The move adds to previous policies introduced to reduce youth smoking and vaping, including a ban on disposable e-cigarettes and restrictions on smoking in areas commonly used by young people.

Source: Anadolu Agency, 19 November 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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