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** 18 December 2025
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UK


** ASH Blog: Are tobacco and nicotine product sales falling? (#1)
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** International
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** Report claims nicotine linked to heart harm across all products (#2)
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** Russia moves to curb tobacco and vape sales at transport stops (#3)
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** Zambian civil society urges parliament to pass tobacco control bill (#4)
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** Guernsey: Community centre adopts smoke-free approach as part of health drive (#5)
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UK


** ASH Blog: Are tobacco and nicotine product sales falling?

In this blog, ASH reviews recent retail data from NIQ reported in The Grocer, which shows a marked decline in sales of cigarettes, rolling tobacco and vapes over the past year. The blog explores what the data can reveal about changing consumption patterns and public health, while also noting its limitations, such as over-representation of supermarket sales and under-representation of convenience stores and online retail.

The data reflects ongoing reductions in smoking prevalence, with record-low adult smoking rates in 2024, and the impact of regulatory measures such as the disposable vape ban introduced in 2025. While single use vape sales have declined, prefilled pod and refillable devices have grown in popularity. Nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products have seen sales increases, whereas licensed cessation aids such as gum, patches and lozenges remain largely unchanged.

Despite overall declines in tobacco sales, cigars and cigarillos are growing in popularity, especially among young people, due to lower taxation, flavours, and weaker packaging regulations.

Source: ASH, 17 December 2025
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** International
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** Report claims nicotine linked to heart harm across all products

A new article published in the European Heart Journal states that nicotine damages the heart and blood vessels regardless of how it is consumed, including through vapes, heated tobacco, shisha, oral pouches or cigarettes.

The authors warn that use of newer nicotine products is rising sharply among adolescents and young adults, many of whom have never smoked, driven by flavours, online marketing and gaps in regulation. The report calls for comprehensive regulation across all nicotine products, including flavour bans, stronger taxation, advertising restrictions and wider smoke- and aerosol-free laws, while noting that further research is needed to fully assess the long-term effects of newer products.

Source: Medical Xpress, 18 December 2025

Editorial note: This story is based on an article published in the European Heart Journal. The article is not based on new analysis or data, but instead provides an overview of the existing evidence and provides policy recommendations. The authors argue that nicotine is harmful to cardiovascular health, regardless of whether it is consumed via combustible tobacco, vapes or other nicotine products and recommend that all nicotine products are subject to the same regulations as cigarettes. The authors make a number of claims which contradict the available evidence. The recent ASH expert briefing ([link removed]) on nicotine concluded that: Nicotine is addictive but carries few direct risks to health on its own. It can be used in non-tobacco products such as NRT and vapes and is an effective aid to quitting smoking. However, it should not be used by people who do not already smoke. Nicotine delivered through NRT is listed as an
essential medicine by the WHO.

Nicotine use can lead to acute increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. However, these effects are short lived and long-term evidence of cardiovascular harm is lacking. A large population based observational study ([link removed]) of people using NRT failed to find any increased risk of heart attack or stroke in this group. The current evidence ([link removed]) suggests that smokers who switch to nicotine vapes/e-cigarettes away from smoking have a significant and early improvement in their vascular health.

In an expert reaction ([link removed]) to the report published by Science Media Centre Prof Peter Hajek of Queen Mary University of London states that the paper misrepresents the scientific evidence by failing to distinguish between the risks of smoking and those of non-combustible nicotine products such as vapes and oral pouches. He warns that presenting all nicotine products as equally dangerous risks discouraging smokers from switching away from cigarettes, potentially undermining public health.

See also: Evidence summary: The health effects of nicotine ([link removed]) - ASH | Expert reaction to report on nicotine and heart / blood vessels ([link removed]) - Science Media Centre | T Münzel, F Crea, S Rajagopalan, T Lüscher, Nicotine and the cardiovascular system: unmasking a global public health threat ([link removed]) , European Heart Journal, 2025; ehaf1010, doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf1010
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** Russia moves to curb tobacco and vape sales at transport stops

Russia’s parliament has approved new legislation preventing cigarettes and electronic nicotine products from being sold at public transport stops. The change extends existing limits on tobacco sales across transport-related locations and is intended to reduce easy access, particularly for younger people, while lowering exposure to second-hand smoke in busy public areas. An exception will apply in small communities where a stop-based kiosk is the only place to buy such products.

The ban is set to come into force in September 2026 and forms part of a wider national effort to strengthen regulation of nicotine use, including tougher penalties for illegal sales of vapes to minors, and expanded powers for regions to impose bans on vapes.

Source: 2Firsts, 18 December 2025
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** Zambian civil society urges parliament to pass tobacco control bill

Zambian civil society groups have called on parliament to approve the Tobacco Control Bill, rejecting industry claims that stricter regulation would increase smoking. The organisations emphasised that the country’s low smoking rate should be maintained by preventing youth nicotine addiction, rather than introducing new products such as vapes or nicotine pouches. They highlighted evidence from Uganda and other countries showing that strong, enforced tobacco laws effectively reduce smoking without relying on alternative nicotine products. Civil society also criticised industry tactics to delay legislation and influence policy, including marketing near schools and using corporate social responsibility activities to promote commercial interests. The groups urged transparency in parliamentary deliberations and compliance with international tobacco control commitments.

Source: Zambia 24, 12 December 2025
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** Guernsey: Community centre adopts smoke-free approach as part of health drive

St Martin’s Community Centre has introduced a smoke- and vape-free policy as part of a wider collaboration with Guernsey’s Health Improvement Commission to support healthier daily choices. The change is intended to reduce exposure to tobacco-related harm and encourage environments that make quitting smoking easier for centre users. While the partnership also includes measures to promote physical activity, healthy eating and social wellbeing, the smoke-free approach is a central element of efforts to create a safer, more inclusive space for people of all ages.

Source: Bailiwick Express, 17 December 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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