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Richmond outlines progress and challenges in drive towards a smokefree borough
Richmond Council reports that smoking rates have fallen to around 5.3% of residents, bringing the borough close to the national smokefree target. The local stop smoking service, working with NHS providers, achieved a 58% quit rate in 2024–25, above the London average of 53%. However, it is highlighted that those in routine or manual jobs, and those with mental illness are among the populations where smoking rates remain higher, and more work is needed to support these groups. Older adults are more likely to use the service, prompting efforts to engage younger residents through social media campaigns.
Participants can access tailored one-on-one support, and a range of medical stop smoking aids. Vaping combined with other nicotine replacement therapy proved most effective, with 80% of users successfully quitting. The borough’s Director of Public Health emphasised that vaping is a useful tool for adult smokers to stop smoking, while the message for non-smokers and children to not start smoking or vaping is clear.
Source: SW Londoner, 3 December 2025
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Scottish grocers call to be involved in developing nicotine pouch guidance
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has written to the UK health secretary seeking to participate in the development of official guidance for retailers on nicotine pouches. The organisation highlighted concerns over high-strength products entering the market and the absence of clear standards to ensure quality.
SGF proposed working collaboratively with government to create standardised rules on the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches, ahead of the age restriction measures expected under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The letter was also shared with Scotland’s health secretary, with meetings requested to discuss the matter further.
Source: Convenience Store News, 3 December 2025
See also: Scottish Grocers' Federation - Tobacco Tactics
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Dutch study finds teenagers waking at night due to nicotine addiction
A survey of 978 secondary school students across five schools in the Netherlands found that of the 396 students who reported smoking or vaping in the past year, 183 did so daily, and 133 reported nicotine use during the night.
One researcher involved in the study described the findings as indicative of serious nicotine addiction at a young age. Healthcare practitioners highlight that the addiction can lead to restlessness, difficulty concentrating, agitation, and a higher risk of anxiety and depression. They also stressed that parents and teachers should recognise the signs of addiction in order to help adolescents manage cravings and reduce health risks.
Source: NL Times, 3 December 2025
Editorial note: The article states “A third of those who indicated that they vaped or smoked in the past year said that they wake up at night to take a few puffs from their vape”. However, vaping and cigarette use were not recorded separately for frequency-of-use questions, with responses instead pooled under ‘nicotine use’. It is therefore unclear what percentage of teenagers surveyed were using vapes vs cigarettes during the night.
See also: Raad DCJ, Koome AM, Baser YE, et al. Frequent, dual and nighttime nicotine use among Dutch adolescents: findings from a school-based survey. Eur J Pediatr. 2025;184:816. doi:10.1007/s00431-025-06670-z
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India passes tax changes expected to make cigarettes more expensive
India’s parliament has approved legislation that replaces a temporary excise levy with a permanent tax structure that analysts say will increase the duty applied to cigarettes. Tobacco taxes in India currently account for about 53% of the retail price, well below the 75% level promoted by the World Health Organization. The government argues that stronger measures are needed to curb smoking-related illness, which contributes to around 1.35 million deaths each year
Under the new system, a value-based excise will be added on top of existing goods and services taxes, with rates varying by product size. Experts say the revised structure represents an average increase of 25% to 40% in excise rates, meaning manufacturers may respond with higher prices. Major domestic producers have not yet responded publicly.
Source: Reuters, 3 December 2025
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McLaren highlights nicotine pouch sponsorship in last Formula One race of 2025
McLaren will introduce a temporary car design for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that gives increased visibility to British American Tobacco’s Velo nicotine pouch branding. The alterations add new colour elements to the front wing, sidepods and floor, and are accompanied by matching race suits and garage graphics.
Source: RaceFans, 3 December 2025
Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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Written questions
Asked by: Lee Anderson, Reform, Ashfield
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of illegitimate businesses and rogue retailers selling tobacco and nicotine products.
Answered by: Ashley Dalton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Labour, West Lancashire
Underage and illicit sales of tobacco and vapes undermine the Government’s work to protect people from harm and risk of addiction. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement, supporting legitimate businesses and cracking down on rogue retailers who breach tobacco and vape regulations. The bill introduces new £200 fixed penalty notices in England and Wales for certain offences, including underage sales, and enables the introduction of a retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products, and a new registration scheme for tobacco, vape, and nicotine products sold on the United Kingdom’s market.
Alongside the bill, we are investing £30 million of new funding for enforcement agencies in 2025/26, including Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs, and Border Force. This funding is being used to support the enforcement of illicit and underage tobacco and vape sales in England, including a boost to the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting 94 new apprentices.
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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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