Nicotine Science and Policy

Ireland's proposed vape flavour restrictions have cleared their final Seanad stages, despite warnings from retailers and former smokers about their potential consequences.

The legislation would restrict permitted flavour names to tobacco and unflavoured, with an amendment to retain menthol defeated. Combined with a planned 40% increase in e-liquid duty from January 2027, the measures could make vaping less affordable and appealing to adults who have already quit smoking.

While preventing youth uptake remains essential, policymakers must also consider the risk of smoking relapse and the potential impact on independent vape retailers. Effective tobacco control should protect young people without undermining progress towards a smoke-free society.

The EU's latest tobacco tax proposal could introduce a minimum excise duty on nicotine pouches more than four times Sweden's current rate by 2032.

Under the draft agreement, taxation would increase progressively from 2028, potentially affecting the affordability of smoke-free nicotine alternatives across Europe. Sweden has raised objections, arguing that taxation should reflect differences in product risk.

The proposal raises important questions for tobacco harm reduction. Higher taxes on lower-risk products could weaken financial incentives for smokers to switch, highlighting the need for a risk-proportionate approach to nicotine taxation.

Belgium has postponed its planned ban on smoking and vaping on café and restaurant terraces, originally scheduled for January 2027, following objections from the Council of State and concerns raised by the hospitality sector.

The delay gives policymakers an opportunity to reconsider how restrictions on smoking and vaping are applied. Protecting people from second-hand smoke remains an important public health objective, but regulation should also recognise differences in exposure and risk between combustible cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives. A proportionate approach can support smoke-free environments without overlooking tobacco harm reduction.

Youth vaping in Hawaii declined by 66% between 2019 and 2025, while cigarette smoking among high school students reached its lowest recorded level. Meanwhile, more adults now report vaping than smoking, according to newly released survey data.

Despite these trends, Hawaii is introducing further restrictions on vaping products, including tighter authorisation requirements and limits on disposable devices.

The findings highlight the importance of balancing youth protection with adult access to lower-risk alternatives, particularly as policymakers consider the potential effects of additional restrictions on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction.

Animal studies investigating children's exposure to residual vaping aerosol have come under scrutiny for using experimental conditions that may not reflect real-world exposure.

Researcher Roberto Sussman questions the relevance of mouse studies that expose animals to heavily contaminated materials, highlighting the lack of evidence for comparable exposure levels in everyday environments where children live.

The analysis reinforces the importance of realistic exposure assessment and scientifically valid comparisons between vaping and smoking. Reliable tobacco harm reduction research must distinguish laboratory findings from risks demonstrated under real-world conditions.