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Opinion: It is time for stricter regulation of e-cigarettes and a windfall tax on tobacco companies
Former health editor for the Guardian, Sarah Boseley, explores the contrasting views surrounding e-cigarettes between the US and UK:
Firstly, Boseley highlights the US Government’s opposition to e-cigarette brands such as Juul Labs who, they argue, “deliberately targe[t] young people with launch parties and social media advertising”. In contrast however, Bosely highlights the UK Government’s “broadly accept[ing]” view of vaping as a smoking cessation aid. Indeed, Bosely states, “in June, Dr Javed Khan, former Barnardo’s head, published a review commissioned by the (then) health secretary, Sajid Javid, into what should be done to make smoking obsolete. His third recommendation was “promote vaping”. More than half (57%) of adult vapers in the UK are ex-smokers, says campaign group ASH.”
As Boseley states, whilst recent ASH data reports “83% of 11-17s have never tried an e-cigarette”, the proportion of young people who describe themselves as current vapers has increased by 3% between 2020 and 2022.
Boseley concludes by arguing, “we surely need [to] clampdown on the advertising and marketing of e-cigarettes that are attractive to young people”. She calls for plain packaging of e-cigarettes, increased regulation, and a “polluter-pays” levy for the tobacco industry to support regulation enforcement: “It is time, as campaigners such as Action on Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK have been saying, and Khan recommended to the government, for a windfall tax on the tobacco companies. The polluter must pay.”
Source: The Guardian, 10 November 2022
See also: ASH - Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain
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Opinion: Why tobacco is the new (legal) wellness ingredient
Writing for the Times on Sunday, Fleur Britten explores a new, concerning, Western trend which sees tobacco used as a spiritual and “wellness” tool by young people.
According to Britten, a recent trend has arisen which sees young people bathing, drinking, and “smudging” tobacco leaves, as well as inhaling tobacco powder, dubbed “shamanic snuff”.
Britten describes the rising popularity of ritualised, “tobacco ceremonies”, festivals and retreats by highlighting a recent Netflix documentary in which American author, Michael Pollan, is seen taking snuff in an Amazonian tobacco ceremony.
Britten states that Nicotiana rustica, “sacred tobacco”, is now so popular, it can be purchased from online retailers such as Etsy. However, whilst it is perceived by users as “healthier” than ordinary tobacco, Britten highlights a study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found a sample contained “exceptionally high levels of chemicals banned in the US”.
Britten concludes by highlighting the lack of regulation surrounding these products and the known health risks associated with snuff use such as cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and pancreas, as well as gum disease, tooth decay, and an elevated risk of dying from heart disease.
Source: The Times, 6 November 2022
See also: Comprehensive Chemical Characterization of Rapé Tobacco Products: Nicotine, Un-ionized Nicotine, Tobacco-specific N’-Nitrosamines, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Flavor Constituents
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Mouth cancer causes grow as cases skyrocket in UK
Cases of mouth cancer in the UK have increased by more than one-third in the last decade to hit a record high, according to a new report.
The number of cases has more than doubled within the last generation and previous common causes like smoking and drinking are being added to by other lifestyle factors.
According to the Oral Health Foundation, 8,864 people in the UK were diagnosed with the disease last year – up 36% on a decade ago, with 3,034 people losing their life to it within the year. This is an increase in deaths of 40% in the last 10 years, and a 20% rise in the last five.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “While most cancers are on the decrease, cases of mouth cancer continue to rise at an alarming rate. Traditional causes like smoking and drinking alcohol to excess are quickly being caught up by emerging risk factors like the human papillomavirus (HPV). […]”
The findings are part of the Oral Health Foundation’s new State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2022, which has been released to coincide with November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month.
Source: The Independent, 11 November 2022
See also: Oral Health Foundation - State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2022 | ASH – Smoking and cancer factsheet
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US: Juul Labs secures cash bailout and cuts jobs in move to stave off bankruptcy
Juul Labs has secured a cash bailout from two of its earliest investors and announced plans to cut jobs as part of a reorganisation aimed at bringing the Altria-backed e-cigarette group back from the brink of bankruptcy.
The vaping company had been considering a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing as its cash reserves dwindled in the face of falling sales and pressure from regulators.
But longtime investors Riaz Valani, general partner at private equity firm Global Asset Capital, and Nicholas Pritzker, a San Francisco real estate billionaire who co-founded Tao Capital Partners, have agreed to throw the company a lifeline, said a person familiar with the matter. The size of the bailout package has not been disclosed.
Along with the cash injection, Juul will cut 400 jobs, which amounts to about a third of its workforce, and reduce its operating spend by between 30 and 40%.
Source: Financial Times, 10 November 2022
See also: Tobacco Tactics – Juul Labs
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NIHR: E-cigarettes may be better than nicotine patches in helping pregnant women stop smoking + ASH comment
The National Insititue for Health and Care Research have this week published a summary of research led by Professor Peter Hajek at Queen Mary University London, which found e-cigarettes are as safe and more effective than nicotine replace therapy as a smoking cessation aid for pregnant women. Policy Manger at ASH, John Waldron, commented on the research.
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Private members bill on tobacco retail licensing
On Wednesday, 9th November, Bob Blackman MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health, introduced a private members’ bill in the Commons which would introduce mandatory tobacco license for retailers, underpinned by age verification for anyone aged under 25.
You can watch a recording of the reading here [14:30:44]
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ASH is recruiting: NHS strategic lead
This leadership role will seek to engage NHS leaders across prevention and health inequalities programmes as part of helping to secure the Government’s vision of smokefree England by 2030.
For more information on the role, please view the job posting linked below.
The deadline for applications is Monday 14th November 11.59pm. Interviews will be held over Teams in the following week.
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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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