Nicotine Science and Policy
By Harry Shapiro Nov. 2, 2023
Harry’s blog 122: Tobacco harm reduction is a human rights issue
A guiding principle of the World Health Organization (WHO) established in 1948, was the universal right to health. Although not expressed in these terms, the implication is that nobody gets left behind even if behaviours which potentially threaten health like illegal drug use and unprotected sex meet with societal disapproval.
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December 07, 2023 by theguardian.com

‘No sympathy’: why are vape stores still opening across Australia six months before ban comes into force?
Over the past four years, David has made complaints to his local council, police, the Australian Taxation Office and federal and state politicians about the illicit tobacco and vape store that opened across the road from his home. With a “cash only” sign, vapes visible on the shelves through the windows, and people frequently leaving the store carrying illicit tobacco packets in plain sight, David says even the local police have acknowledged that illegal trade is occurring. He says it is one of the busiest stores in his small town in the Gippsland region of Victoria, east of Melbourne. And that angers him, he says, “because I pay my taxes every year”.
13.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.6 million current smokers in Australia 15.20% of men are current smokers but only 10.90% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 07, 2023 by themalaysianreserve.com

Illegal to sell nicotine products to minors after anti-smoking Bill passed – SFC
The High Court [...] was told that with the passing of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 in Dewan Rakyat last week, vendors are now forbidden from selling smoking products including vape and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to minors. Senior federal counsel (SFC) Ahmad Hanir Hambaly said with the passing of the Bill on Nov 30, children under 18 now cannot smoke (nicotine-containing vape and e-cigarettes). “The sale and supply of poison including nicotine to children would be illegal as provided under Section 13 of the Bill.
21.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 5.3 million current smokers in Malaysia 42.10% of men are current smokers but only 0.50% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 06, 2023 by gfn.tv
IRELAND'S VAPING RESTRICTIONS EXPLAINED | Featuring Garrett McGovern
With sweeping vaping age-restrictions now in force in Ireland, and flavours and disposables in the spotlight, we ask Garrett McGovern if these new and potential restrictions will negatively impact Ireland's ongoing goal to reduce smoking rates.
December 06, 2023 by financialpost.com
Opinion: Nicotine products can help reduce health harms
In Canada we are fretting about reaching zero by 2035. Meanwhile the Norwegians and Icelanders are mushing hard, chasing down Sweden, which, to go along with its effectively zero smoking rate, has the lowest rate of lung cancer and tobacco-related disease in the developed world. The European average death rate attributable to tobacco is 373 per 100,000 population. In Sweden it’s 40 per cent of that: just 152.
December 06, 2023 by tobaccoreporter.com
Adults Should be Allowed to Buy Tobacco: Poll
Almost three-fifths of people in Britain say that when people are 18 and legally an adult, they should be allowed to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products, a new poll conducted on behalf of the smokers’ lobby group Forest has found. Conducted by Yonder Consulting, the survey found that 58 percent of respondents think that if a person can vote, drive a car, buy alcohol or possess a credit card at 18, they should also be allowed to purchase tobacco.
12.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 7.2 million current smokers in United Kingdom 14.60% of men are current smokers but only 11.20% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 06, 2023 by filtermag.org
New Zealand Splits Opinion by Scrapping Smoking Ban
New Zealand’s new coalition government plans to abandon the country’s world-first policy of an incremental smoking ban, in order to fund tax cuts. Just as the original policy divided expert opinion, so has news of its repeal. [...] Proponents said that this and other measures in the package, like reducing the number of tobacco retailers by 90 percent and cutting the legal amount of nicotine in cigarettes, would help the country reach its goal of being “smokefree” (prevalence below 5 percent) by 2025. No similar restrictions were imposed on vape sales.
10.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 420,745 current smokers in New Zealand.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 06, 2023 by reuters.com
China e-cigarette titan behind 'Elf Bar' floods the U.S. with illegal vapes
A new breed of e-cigarette has addicted teenagers and confounded regulators worldwide by offering flavors like Blue Cotton Candy and Pink Lemonade in a cheap, disposable package. The tycoon dominating this latest wave is Zhang Shengwei, 50, a veteran of China’s vape industry in the southern manufacturing hub of Shenzhen. Most people have never heard of him. Zhang quietly rose over 15 years from a boutique exporter to become one of the world’s largest vape manufacturers. His main company, Heaven Gifts, now competes with industry giants Juul Labs Inc and British American Tobacco Plc (BATS.L) in the United States, the United Kingdom and across Europe.
25.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 295.5 million current smokers in China 47.80% of men are current smokers but only 2.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 06, 2023 by www.gov.ie
Minister for Health welcomes the passing of legislation banning sale of e-cigarettes to under 18s
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is today welcoming the completion of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill in both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill will now be sent to Uachtarán na hÉireann for signing. Minister Donnelly has asked officials in his department to immediately prepare the necessary Statutory Instrument so that the ban on the sale of nicotine inhaling products, including e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’ to under-18s will come into law before Christmas.
19.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 760,925 current smokers in Ireland.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 05, 2023 by colinmendelsohn.com.au
What can Aussie vapers expect in 2024?
WHAT IS THE LIKELY OUTCOME from Mark Butler’s draconian restrictions on vaping? Having dusted off my crystal ball, here’s my take: Butler's ban is likely to fail, setting the stage for an eventual shift towards a more progressive vaping policy in 2025.
The key elements of Butler’s crackdown are
- Continued enforcement of the failed prescription model
- Restrictive product standards: only tobacco or mint flavours, a likely maximum nicotine limit of 20mg/mL and pharmaceutical-style packaging
- A complete ban on disposable vaping products
- Prohibition of personal importation of vaping liquids and devices
- Mandatory pre-approval for all legal products by manufacturers or importers.
13.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.6 million current smokers in Australia 15.20% of men are current smokers but only 10.90% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
December 05, 2023 by filtermag.org
The Hypocrisy of FDA Commissioner Califf’s Stance on Vaping
Earlier this year, Dr. Robert Califf, commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), emerged as a vocal advocate against misinformation in the public health domain. A commitment to combating the real problem of health rumors and falsehoods is commendable. But Califf’s recent statements regarding tobacco harm reduction reveal a concerning level of misinformation of his own—and the distinct whiff of hypocrisy.
18.30% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 48.7 million current smokers in United States 21.60% of men are current smokers but only 15.20% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
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Blogs
Harry’s blog 122: Tobacco harm reduction is a human rights issue
A guiding principle of the World Health Organization (WHO) established in 1948, was the universal right to health. Although not expressed in these terms, the implication is that nobody gets left behind even if behaviours which potentially threaten health like illegal drug use and unprotected sex meet with societal disapproval.
Harry’s blog 121: International tobacco control and the search for intelligent life
KAC has published an updated version of our Briefing Paper on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s Conference of the Parties (FCTC COP) meeting due to take place in Panama in November. While a billion people still smoke, the WHO and allies deflect attention away from the failure of traditional tobacco control policies to put a significant dent in death and disease from smoking by instead attacking tobacco harm reduction.
Harry’s blog 120: Bent as a boomerang: vaping politics in Australia.
Dr Colin Mendelsohn is a well-respected tobacco harm reduction expert who wrote an article for the Australian website Education HQ advising schools on strategies to deal with vaping among students. The article was posted then withdrawn. Dr Mendelsohn received an email from the editor saying: “Unfortunately my managing editor has decided we need to unpublish your article for now, I'm terribly sorry. He is working through a concern that's been raised around your relationship with the vape and tobacco industry.”