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Arts institutions defend continued sponsorship from tobacco company
The London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Arts are maintaining partnerships with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), even as the British Museum has withdrawn from their partnership with JTI. The London Philharmonic Orchestra argues the funding underpins their programme OrchLab, which supports disabled adults to engage with music, and helps offset relatively low levels of public subsidy. The Royal Academy of Arts, facing financial pressures, also regards the sponsorship as an important part of its income. Both organisations emphasise that donations are vetted through internal governance and compliance processes, but neither has disclosed the sums involved.
Source: Arts Professional, 20 November 2025
See also: British Museum ends ‘deeply troubling’ sponsorship from Japanese tobacco firm
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AsianTrader urges retailers to prepare for Christmas demand of tobacco products
In this article in AsianTrader retailers are urged to prepare for the rise in demand for tobacco products over the Christmas period, driven by gifting. Industry data from IRI shows that December boosts cigar purchases by 10%, and medium and large cigar sales increase by 20%. Retailers are advised to balance low-cost and premium options, as 72% of all cigarette sales in the UK are made up of value and economy products, but 37% of sales in the hand-rolled category are premium products. Cigarillos remain the strongest performer in the cigar category, making up £155million of the £327 million annual sales total for the cigar category.
Source: Asian Trader, 20 November 2025
Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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Durham County Council to introduce weekly vape and battery collections to reduce waste-truck fires
Durham County Council plans to start weekly pick-ups of used vapes and batteries alongside food waste collections from next spring, aiming to lower the risk of fires in refuse vehicles. The move follows a series of incidents linked to damaged batteries igniting during compaction. Residents will place the items in a separate bag, with collected materials stored in a fire-resistant section of the trucks. The scheme supplements existing drop-off points and reinforces warnings not to dispose of such items in general waste or recycling bins.
Source: BBC News, 21 November 2025
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Bradford pupil recognised for ‘smoke and vape-free’ campaign artwork
A ten-year-old pupil has won a district-wide for creating a banner promoting smoke and vape-free spaces at youth sports clubs. Her design was chosen from a large number of entries submitted to a joint initiative by Bradford City FC Community Foundation and the local council. The banner has since been distributed to junior teams taking part in a recent awareness-raising football event.
Source: The Telegraph and Argus, 21 November 2025
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Tobacco lobbying intensifies as WHO negotiators face coordinated pressure
The WHO COP11 meeting in Geneva has become the focus of an intensive campaign by tobacco firms seeking to dilute forthcoming global rules. Delegates report coordinated attempts to influence positions, with some countries echoing industry-friendly narratives on alternative nicotine products. These arguments, often promoted by allied advocacy groups online and at parallel events in the city, emphasise “harm reduction” despite concerns about youth uptake. Although industry representatives are formally barred from the talks, attempts to gain access have been reported, prompting tighter security. Negotiators are still struggling over new measures designed to curb industry interference ahead of the meeting’s conclusion on 22 November.
Source: Euractiv, 21 November 2025
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Greece launches digital systems to curb youth access to alcohol and tobacco
Greece has introduced three nationwide digital measures aimed at tightening enforcement against underage drinking and smoking. A new online registry requires venues hosting private events involving minors to log event details, giving authorities clearer oversight. Retailers must now declare all alcohol and tobacco categories they sell, creating a comprehensive national database supported by QR codes that confirm legitimate registration. A separate QR-based age-verification system, usable in shops and online, allows sellers to confirm whether a customer is underage.
Source: Greek Reporter, 21 November 2025
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Written Answers
Asked by Joe Robertson, Conservative, Isle of Wight East
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the UK delegation attending the fourth Meeting of Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control plans to (a) oppose the extension of the scope of application of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products beyond tobacco products to electronic nicotine delivery services and (b) help ensure that proposed amendments of the Treaty follow the proper procedures.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Labour, Chipping Barnet
The procedures for amending the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products are laid down in Articles 38 and 39 of that treaty. These stipulate that any proposals need to be communicated to parties at least six months before the session at which they are proposed to be adopted.
As no such communication has been made in this case, if any proposals for extending the Treaty to electronic nicotine delivery services were to emerge, they would need to be considered at a future Meeting of Parties (MOP) rather than this MOP. The UK would always seek to ensure that any proposals to amend the Treaty follow the proper procedures.
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Asked by Sir James Cleverly, Conservative, Braintree
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of banning vaping inside pubs on the economic viability of community pubs.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the Government with powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free.
Many businesses and enclosed public places, including pubs, already have voluntary schemes in place to prohibit vape usage inside their premises. We plan to consult on making most indoor settings, that are subject to existing smoke-free legislation, vape free.
Exactly which settings should become vape-free will be a matter for secondary legislation and will be subject to a full consultation. We will undertake full impact assessments before any regulations are made, including the likely impact on businesses.
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COP11 Bulletin Day 5
The Bulletin for Day 5 of the COP11 on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control (FCTC) in Geneva.
Source: Global Alliance for Tobacco Control
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Proportionate, evidence-led regulation best protects children’s rights
Writing in the BMJ, Sarah Jackson, Lion Shahab, Sharon Cox, Harry Tattan-Birch and Jamie Brown respond to an article titled 'how e-cigarettes compromise children's human rights'. The authors conclude that youth use of nicotine products requires regulation, however a balanced approach is needed to also acknowledge the use of vapes as a smoking cessation tool for adults.
Source: British Medical Journal, 12 November 2025
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Obesity Health Alliance template response to consultation on energy drinks
Colleagues at the Obesity Health Alliance have developed a template response for public health organisations to respond to the Government's consultation on energy drinks (closing 26 Nov). Please contact [email protected] for more info.
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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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