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** 9 February 2026
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** UK
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** Former MP challenges phased smoking ban and backs age-21 limit (#1)
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** Vaping regulation linked to wider security concerns (#2)
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** Researcher claims vaping may contribute to serious health risks (#3)
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** Deprived neighbourhoods face an imbalance of shops and services (#4)
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** M&S calls for alcohol to be included in mandatory health reporting (#5)
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** International
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** Many cancer cases in the Netherlands linked to avoidable risks (#6)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written questions (#7)
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** UK
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** Former MP challenges phased smoking ban and backs age-21 limit

A former Conservative MP, David Jones criticises the government’s annual age-increase plan for phasing out smoking, calling it impractical and urging a single legal age of 21 for both cigarettes and vapes.

He urges a single minimum age of 21 for both cigarettes and vapes, arguing that most smokers begin in their teenage years.

The government has rejected these arguments, stating the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is fulfilling its commitment to create the UK’s first smoke-free generation. Ministers say the legislation will curb youth access to nicotine products and is backed by new enforcement powers, including fixed penalties for underage sales.

Source: Daily Express, 7 February 2026
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** Vaping regulation linked to wider security concerns

Former defence committee chair Tobias Ellwood argues that the spread of illegal disposable vapes in the UK should be treated as a national security issue as well as a public health concern. He says large volumes of non-compliant products, largely manufactured in China, are entering the country through weakly enforced supply chains, exposing gaps in regulation and oversight.

Ellwood maintains that raising the legal age for buying vapes to 21 would reduce youth use and make enforcement more effective, while helping the UK regain control over product standards. He also warns that dependence on foreign-made, digitally connected goods can create hidden vulnerabilities, calling for closer alignment between trade policy, regulation and security planning.

Source: Conservative home, 6 February 2026

Editorial note: Insights from trading standards indicate that fewer illegal vapes are currently being ceased since the disposable vapes ban came into force. Excise tax due to come into force in October will provide greater supply chain controls at the boarder.

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** Researcher claims vaping may contribute to serious health risks

In this article, Dr Maxime Boidin of Manchester Metropolitan University says that long-term e-cigarette use may contribute to damage to arteries and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, organ failure, and cognitive decline, including dementia. He reports that the arteries of vapers in his study showed similar levels of damage to those of smokers. The findings have not yet been formally published.

Source: The Mirror, 7 February 2026

Editorial note: As the study has not yet been published, its findings cannot be reviewed. The insights presented do not align with the findings of the 2024 Royal College of Physicians Evidence Review ([link removed]) .
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** Deprived neighbourhoods face an imbalance of shops and services

Research produced by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods suggests that England’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods have 70% more vape retailers, betting shops, off-licences and takeaways than more affluent areas, while offering fewer amenities that support families and community life, including nurseries, gyms and cafés.

Chair of the Commission, Hilary Armstrong, warns that government efforts to revive high streets may be too narrowly focused on town centres and risk neglecting smaller, local shopping parades.

Zoë Billingham of IPPR North warns that empty neighbourhood precincts push people, particularly young men, online where they may encounter radicalising content.

Source: The Guardian, 9 February 2026

See also: Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds ([link removed]) - The Guardian ([link removed])
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** M&S calls for alcohol to be included in mandatory health reporting

Marks & Spencer has criticised government plans requiring large retailers to report sales of healthy and unhealthy food, warning that alcohol is excluded despite contributing “empty calories” that affect public health. M&S said it would include alcohol in its reporting voluntarily and encouraged other supermarkets to follow suit, citing examples of calories in beer, wine, and spirits.

The mandatory reporting forms part of wider government measures to combat obesity, including planned “Healthy Food Standards” encouraging product reformulation, promotions on healthier options, and adjustments to loyalty schemes. Government spokespeople praised M&S for taking the lead.

Source: The Times, 7 February 2026

Editorial note: Media stories covering prevention of ill-health are being included in ASH Daily News because policy change in these areas is indicative of the Government’s position on prevention and their attitudes to harm-causing industries.

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** International
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** Many cancer cases in the Netherlands linked to avoidable risks

An international analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, suggests that around 40% of cancers diagnosed in the Netherlands are associated with preventable factors. Smoking was identified as the largest contributor, linked to more than 16% of cancer cases in women and over 23% in men. Other major risk factors included excess body weight, alcohol consumption and unsafe sun exposure.

The study examined data on dozens of cancer types worldwide, using exposure patterns from around 2012 to estimate their impact on cancer diagnoses in 2022.

Experts caution that individual cancer diagnoses cannot be traced to single causes, as chance and genetic factors play a major role. However, they stress that reducing preventable risks at a population level could substantially lower cancer rates and healthcare costs.

Source: NL Times, 6 February 2026

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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written questions

Asked by Jack Rankin, Conservative, Windsor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of vaping devices that (a) contain and (b) can be configured to contain more than the standard 2ml tank capacity through (i) interchangeable and (ii) modular components on public health.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Labour, West Lancashire

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted, and advertised to children and provides the Government with new powers to restrict the packaging, device appearance, and display of vapes and other nicotine products to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.

On 8 October 2025, we launched a Call for Evidence which sought evidence on the size and shape of vapes, vape tanks, and the components of vaping products, including pods, puff-count capacity, and nicotine delivery.

We are now reviewing the responses, and these will help inform decisions around our future regulatory approach once the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been enacted.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as part of their upcoming Circular Economy Growth Plan, will consider evidence across a range of interventions, including but not limited to the regulation of product features to support increased recyclability.
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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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