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** 27 April 2026
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** UK
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** Cancer survivor backs the smokefree generation (#1)
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** UK sees decline in years lived in good health despite stable life expectancy (#2)
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** MPs challenge new ministerial powers over NHS drug pricing (#3)
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** Two doctors claim vaping risk may be worse than smoking (#4)
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** International
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** Spain weighs stricter tobacco rules after Tobacco and Vapes Bill passes all Parliamentary stages in UK (#5)
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** UK
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** Cancer survivor backs the smokefree generation

Susie Hartley, who developed lung cancer after three decades of smoking, has expressed strong support for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will gradually end tobacco sales for future generations. Having started smoking as a teenager and later undergoing major treatment, including the removal of part of her right lung, she now advocates for stronger prevention measures to stop others from becoming addicted.

The smokefree generation policy will steadily raise the legal age of sale for tobacco, effectively preventing younger people from ever being sold it. Susie Hartley said she is "absolutely delighted" about the policy, which will protect children such as her grandsons from ever becoming addicted to tobacco.

The Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, stated that the Tobacco and Vapes Bil is a "turning point" that will protect children from the harms of smoking. She celebrates that public health has won over Big Tobacco, but highlights that there is more to do, and that the Government needs to support current smokers in the UK who are not impacted by the smokefree generation policy.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that this is a "historic moment" for public health.

Source: Daily Express, 26 April 2026
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** UK sees decline in years lived in good health despite stable life expectancy

A recent analysis by the Health Foundation shows that people across the UK are now spending fewer years in good health than they were a decade ago. The drop in healthy life expectancy affects both men and women and means a growing share of life is spent in poorer health, in contrast to its rise in many other wealthy countries across the world.

The Health Foundation link this trend to factors such as rising obesity, increasing mental health problems, chronic conditions and deaths related to alcohol and drugs. Widening inequalities between richer and poorer areas are also a major contributor, with significant regional gaps.

The findings explain why deaths are rising amongst 25- to 49-year-olds and 2.8 million people are too unwell to work. While overall life expectancy has not declined, the Health Foundation argue the deterioration in quality of health reflects systemic issues rather than unavoidable trends. Calls have been made for stronger preventative measures, including improving diet, addressing substance misuse and tackling underlying social and economic drivers of poor health, rather than focusing solely on healthcare services.

The Department of Health and Social Care stated that the fact the population is getting more unhealthy is a “disgrace” and pointed to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and junk food advertising restrictions as evidence of its measures to improve the nation’s health.

Source: The Guardian, 27 April 2026

See also:The Health Foundation - Healthy life expectancy trends in the UK: a watershed moment ([link removed])
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** MPs challenge new ministerial powers over NHS drug pricing

A group of MPs from multiple political parties has raised objections to plans giving the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting greater authority over how much the NHS pays for medicines. The proposal would allow ministers to override the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (Nice) decisions on how the NHS should spend on medicines.

Labour, Green, Liberal Democrat, Independent, SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs have supported a prayer from John McDonnell to show their disagreement. John McDonnell, former Labour Shadow Chancellor, has argued the change would weaken safeguards designed to ensure value for money and limit the influence of pharmaceutical companies.

The policy is linked to a broader agreement with the United States, which ministers say will support access to innovative treatments and protect UK pharmaceutical trade. However, Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, has argued the rules are “coming at the behest of Trump”, not to help patients.

The government maintains that the independent evaluation process will remain intact and that the reforms aim to improve patient access to new therapies while maintaining accountability for public spending.

Source: The Guardian, 26 April 2026
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** Two doctors claim vaping risk may be worse than smoking

Dr William Li, a physician and cancer researcher has claimed that vapes may pose a more serious health risk than smoking. He has claimed that the substances inhaled through vaping could be toxic and potentially DNA-mutating.

Dr Jeremy London, a specialist in general, vascular and thoracic surgery who shares advice through social media, has raised concerns about vaping. When asked to rank the dangers of some “lifestyle habits” from 1 to 10, he rated vaping at 10.

Source: North Wales Live, 26 April 2026

Editorial note: No evidence is cited to support the claims made in the article. The most recent evidence review of vaping published by the Royal College of Physicians ([link removed]) in 2024 concluded that there is “clear evidence that e-cigarettes cause less harm to health than combustible tobacco.” A previous independent review ([link removed]) of the evidence commissioned by the UK Government and published in 2022, concluded that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risk of smoking in the short and medium term. The long-term health impacts are currently unknown; however, given that the same review found that vapers are exposed to significantly lower levels of harmful substances linked to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases than smokers, it
is reasonable to conclude that the long-term impacts will be far lower than for smoking. The authors highlighted that vaping is not risk free and advised against people who have never smoked from taking it up.

ASH supports the position ([link removed]) set out by Prof Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England: “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable.”

For more information, see the ASH webpage: Vaping: what you need to know ([link removed])
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** International
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** Spain weighs stricter tobacco rules after Tobacco and Vapes Bill passes all Parliamentary stages in UK

Debate has resurfaced in Spain over tightening smoking regulations following the Tobacco and Vapes Bill passing all of its Parliamentary stages in the UK. Spain currently operates a standard minimum-age system, allowing purchases from age 18, but public health advocates argue the country has fallen behind others adopting more ambitious anti-smoking measures.

Introducing a similar approach would require new legislation. The discussion also highlights differences tourists may encounter if new legislation is introduced in Spain, as visitors are subject to the laws of the country where they are purchasing tobacco.

No immediate changes have been announced, however the article argues that Britain’s decision to implement a smokefree generation policy has changed the conversation in Europe, placing pressure on European governments to indicate whether they will follow in Britain’s footsteps.

Source: Euro Weekly News, 26 April 2026
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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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