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Comment: Retailers have a vital role in implementing upcoming regulations on tobacco and vapes
Writing in the Grocer, ASH Deputy Chief Executive Caroline Cerny comments on the vital role that retailers will play in the “next chapter of the smokefree journey.” Upcoming regulations include a vape excise tax from 1st October 2026, an age of sale of 18 for all consumer nicotine products and a ban on their free distribution from 29th October 2026, and the implementation of the smokefree generation policy from 1st January 2027.
Cerny highlights that much of what retailers will have to do will feel familiar, as they already have processes in place to carry out age of sale checks. She explains that the smokefree generation policy is really just an extra date of birth check within the age verification routine retailers already implement.
Cerny also explains that heated tobacco products are now subject to the same advertising and display restrictions as other tobacco products, and that any retailers who have not removed advertising should do so immediately.
Cerny concludes that making this new framework work is a shared responsibility between Trading Standards, the Government, retailers and public health teams, and it is important for retailers to prepare. She says that retailers are a crucial partner in ensuring a smokefree future for the UK.
Source: The Grocer, 21 August 2026
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Vape liquid manufacturer Riot Labs calls for vapers to respond to Government consultation
Milton Keynes-based e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs is encouraging vapers and retailers to respond to the Government consultation on the packaging, appearance and display of vapes and tobacco. The company has created an online portal, called ‘savevaping.co.uk’, explaining the proposals and encouraging members of the public to write to their MPs. The portal also includes a ‘Relapse Register’ for former smokers to record whether they think the proposals would encourage them to go back to using cigarettes.
Riot Labs supports some of the proposed restrictions, including measures targeting child-friendly branding, but it objects to standardised packaging, limiting device colours and restricting point of sale displays in specialist age-restricted shops. It is also calling for the retail licensing system set out in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 to be implemented across the sector.
Source: Milton Keynes Citizen, 20th August 2026
Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
See also: Government consultation – Tobacco and vapes: packaging, appearance and display
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Inverclyde councillor welcomes new restrictions on vaping products
Councillor Sandra Reynolds, an Inverclyde councillor and former pharmacist, welcomes the Tobacco and Vapes Act, in particular the way in which it will tighten restrictions on vaping products.
Councillor Reynolds comments on her work as a pharmacist after the 2006 smoking ban in Scotland, supporting people who wanted to quit smoking. She states that inclusion of vapes in Scotland’s smoking cessation programme “proved impossible” because of the quick proliferation of vape type and the lack of regulation. She comments that legislation has taken a long time to catch up.
Councillor Reynolds explains that she is concerned about the use of vapes amongst young people and people who have never smoked, who she feels the vape industry are targeting. However, she recognises that regulated vaping can have a role in helping adult smokers move away from cigarettes. She describes a visit to a specialist vape retailer, where staff demonstrated how appropriate product selection and advice could help an adult quit smoking.
Councillor Reynolds concludes that specialist vape shops support the Tobacco and Vapes Act, and that they believe youth vaping should end, illicit products should be removed from the market, and adult smokers should retain access to vaping products as a way to quit smoking.
Source: Greenock Telegraph, 20 August 2026
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Oxfordshire landlords asked to help tackle illicit tobacco sales
Landlords in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to take greater responsibility for checking commercial tenants and responding swiftly when their premises are suspected of being used to sell illicit tobacco.
The appeal follows investigations by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team, which have uncovered illicit tobacco being sold through shops.
Landlords are advised to conduct thorough checks before agreeing tenancies, keep accurate records of occupants and rent payments, and seek legal advice over subletting or changes to tenancy arrangements.
Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for public health and inequalities, said that the illicit tobacco trade damages legitimate businesses and is associated with organised crime. She commented that the council are committed to creating “a hostile environment” for those who profit from illicit tobacco.
Source: Talking Retail, 20 August 2026
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South Yorkshire campaign highlights support for quitting smoking
The South Yorkshire campaign Smokefree Starts is encouraging smokers to seek professional help to quit smoking, with several residents sharing their experiences of giving up after decades of tobacco use.
Richard Kemp from Barnsley had smoked for over 50 years and accessed support from Yorkshire SmokeFree Barnsley. He said that he didn’t believe he could quit smoking but has been three months smokefree with local support.
Smoking remains more prevalent in South Yorkshire than the national average; South Yorkshire has a smoking prevalence of 12.6%. The South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance hopes its campaign will demonstrate that quitting is achievable, even after many years of smoking, and is encouraging smokers to make use of local cessation services.
The alliance has set an ambition to eliminate smoking across the region by 2030 and says professional support can help people improve their health after stopping.
Source: Yorkshire Live, 20 August 2026
See also: Smokefree Starts
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Smoking, obesity and alcohol linked to higher cancer risk in men with heart disease
Research from the University of Aberdeen and Keele University, following more than 22,000 people for over two decades, found that men with cardiovascular disease faced a greater likelihood of developing and dying from cancer than women with the same condition. The disparity was particularly evident for cancers affecting the lungs and oesophagus.
Researchers identified smoking, obesity and high alcohol consumption as “primary drivers” behind cancer cases in men. The study also found elevated risks of several other cancers, including those affecting the stomach and bowel.
The findings have prompted calls for stronger prevention, earlier detection and more tailored health services for people with cardiovascular conditions. Experts also stressed that many cancer and heart-disease risk factors overlap, while cautioning that further research is needed to fully explain the differences between men and women.
Source: The Independent, 21 August 2026
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Convenience retail set to grow by over £6billion over the next five years
UK convenience retail is forecast to grow by £6.3bn between 2026 and 2031, although its growth rate is expected to trail the wider grocery market, according to new analysis by IGD.
The IGD report states that the convenience sector is set to grow at 2.5% compound annual growth rate in the next five years, slower than the grocery market at 3.3%. The outlook is stronger when “tobacco and vaping are stripped out”, because non-tobacco convenience sales are set to grow by 3.4%.
The article states that tobacco and vaping categories are important for sales and footfall for many convenience retailers, and that the generational sales ban on tobacco will add further pressure.
Source: Asian Trader, 20 August 2026
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US: Study examines the influence of tobacco industry campaigns on proposed menthol cigarette ban
A Rutgers Health analysis has examined more than 246,000 submissions made during a US consultation on proposed restrictions covering menthol cigarettes and flavoured cigars. Researchers found that 97% of comments submitted on menthol cigarettes and 93% on flavoured cigars were form letter templates, and only 2% of submission were considered unique.
The researchers estimate that 46% of the form letters on menthol cigarettes contained language traceable to tobacco industry linked campaigns. Even among unique comments, the comments were overwhelmingly opposing the restrictions; 96% of the unique menthol comments, and 99% of the unique cigar comments opposed the restrictions.
The research forms part of wider work examining how tobacco companies have sought to influence public debate around flavoured tobacco regulation. The authors of the study argue that large volumes of similar submissions can give a misleading impression of the breadth of public opinion and may complicate evidence-based policymaking.
The proposed US restrictions were eventually abandoned in 2025 following earlier delays.
Source: Bioengineer, 21 August 2026
See also: Villanti AC, Tomaino M, Johnson A, et al. Public Comments and Federal Rulemaking for Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(8):e2629962. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.29962
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ASH blog - From landmark legislation to local delivery: regional events to make the smokefree generation a success
In this new blog, ASH Stakeholder Engagement and Networks Coordinator, Michael Carr talks about why local and regional action is so important for the implementation of the ‘Smokefree Generation’ policy, and how ASH is supporting partners and stakeholders for a coordinated effort.
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ASH ask – have you seen any promotional activity for cigarette filters?
ASH is seeking examples of advertising or promotion of cigarette filters. This includes adverts, sponsorships, point of sale display and packaging. ASH is asking anyone who sees an example of filter promotion to take a picture and email it to us at [email protected].
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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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