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** 15 December 2025
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UK


** UK vaping and tobacco market sees mixed trends amid disposable restrictions (#1)
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** International
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** Fewer people in Netherlands consulting GPs for smoking cessation support since Covid-19 (#2)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written answers (#3)
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UK


** UK vaping and tobacco market sees mixed trends amid disposable restrictions

UK retail data from NIQ, published by The Grocer shows a contraction in the vaping market in the year to 6 September, following the introduction of a ban on single-use devices in June. Spending on vapes fell by £225 million, or nearly 13%, with disposable products among the fastest-declining retail categories.

Loose tobacco sales dropped by 22%, while combined sales of vapes, cigarettes and tobacco fell by more than £1 billion over the period.

Industry groups argue that reduced legal sales may reflect a shift towards illicit products rather than lower consumption. The articles cites a survey from vape retailer Haypp as evidence that users continue to access disposable vapes despite the ban.

The policy was introduced amid concern over rising youth vaping; ASH survey data indicates that 7.6% of 11–17-year-olds were current vape users in 2024, up from 4.1% in 2020.
Products categorised as smoking cessation aids recorded 24% growth in sales volume.

Source: The Sunday Times, 13 December 2025

Editorial note: The drop in vape sales is likely a direct result of the ban on single-use devices. Evidence from other industry surveys ([link removed]) suggests that many users are now reusing products rather than purchasing new ones. According to the Grocer (print only), sales of closed-system ‘pod’ vapes have increased.

Declines in tobacco sales are likely partly driven by a combination of falling smoking rates and falling consumption (smokers consuming less tobacco). Smoking rates have fallen to the lowest level on record, with 10.6% of UK adults smoking in 2024, compared to 11.1% in 2023.

The article states that “Products commonly used to help stop smoking, such as lozenges, gums and sprays, grew by 24 per cent in volume terms.” However, this is slightly misleading because the “smoking cessation aids” category includes nicotine pouches and heated tobacco. These products are not licensed for smoking cessation and evidence on their effectiveness for quitting is limited. Almost all of the growth in the “smoking cessation” category comes nicotine pouches and heated tobacco, rather than licensed NRT products.

See also: NielsenIQ Data Shows UK Tobacco Market Decline of 12.7% with E-Cigarettes Dropping GBP 225 Million ([link removed]) - 2FIRSTS | Youth vaping: the facts ([link removed]) - ASH | Vaping: what you need to know ([link removed]) - ASH
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** International
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** Fewer people in Netherlands consulting GPs for smoking cessation support since Covid-19

Research by the Dutch health services institute Nivel shows that fewer smokers in the Netherlands have sought help from general practitioners to quit since the coronavirus pandemic, despite GP services largely returning to normal levels. While contacts for smoking cessation had been rising before 2020, they dropped sharply at the start of the pandemic and have remained below earlier levels ever since, reaching a low point in 2023.

The decline cannot be explained by reduced access or funding, as insurance coverage for cessation support has expanded since 2020. This trend comes despite only a modest fall in adult smoking rates, from 21.7% in 2019 to 19% in 2023, and a rise in vaping over the same period. Nivel also found that patients are consulting GPs less often for social, work-related and educational concerns, suggesting some lasting changes in healthcare-seeking behaviour following the pandemic.

Source: NL Times, 15 December 2025
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written answers

Asked by: Jim Shannon, Democratic Unionist Party, Strangford
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to raise awareness in schools of the potential impact of vapes on health.

Answered by: Georgia Gould, Minister of State (Education), Labour, Queen’s Park and Maida vale
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department has included a specific reference to the dangers of vaping in the amended relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance, which was published in July. This includes the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and associated risks of vaping, the risks of illicit vapes containing drugs, and the facts about vaping, including the harms posed to young people.

To support schools to deliver this content effectively, the department’s existing suite of teacher training modules includes one on drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which makes specific reference to e-cigarettes. In addition, Oak National Academy has developed materials across the updated curriculum.

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** Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative, Huntingdon
To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Attorney General has had recent discussions with his Cabinet colleagues on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s legal compatibility with the Windsor Framework in relation to Northern Ireland.

Answered by: Ellie Reeves, Solicitor General (Attorney General’s Office), Labour, Lewisham West and East Dulwich
The Attorney sits on the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee. As part of the process of approving a government Bill for introduction, as set out in the published Guide to Making Legislation, a legal issues memorandum is prepared for this Committee. This will set out all relevant legal issues.

Whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice outside of the PBL process is covered by the Law Officers' Convention. This Convention provides that whether or not the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.

This protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
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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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