Read articles from Europe

January 22, 2025 by tobaccoreporter.com

Luxembourg is not following neighboring countries and the European Commission in banning vapor devices. The Ministry of Health is monitoring foreign measures to evaluate potential actions. While acknowledging the health risks of high nicotine doses in vape products, the Ministry believes a ban limited to disposable vapes would not be effective. They advocate for a comprehensive approach covering all electronic cigarettes. The Ministry notes the popularity of tobacco tourism due to lower taxes in Luxembourg. A proposed 2023 bill focuses on regulating tobacco products, including flavored vape restrictions and nicotine limits, but excludes disposable e-cigarettes.

January 21, 2025 by luxtimes.lu

Disposable e-cigarettes, banned in Belgium, face a possible ban in France due to health concerns like high nicotine levels affecting youth. Luxembourg opts for observation over banning. They acknowledge health risks, environmental impact, and the attraction to young users through appealing flavors. The ministry suggests a comprehensive approach to tackle the issue effectively. Despite concerns, the government believes banning only disposable e-cigarettes may not be highly effective. Luxembourg monitors tobacco sales statistics and plans to collect data on vaping products by April 2025. A proposed bill in 2023 focuses on tobacco regulation but excludes disposable e-cigarettes. The Cancer Foundation reports increased smoking rates among young adults.

January 20, 2025 by irishmirror.ie

Teenagers are using nicotine pouches similar to snus, but without tobacco, evading tobacco laws. These pouches are inexpensive, flavored, and contain 4-11mg of nicotine. Professional athletes and influencers endorse them, masking their risks. The Director of the National Association of Principals urges awareness of long-term health effects, stating teens wrongly perceive them as harmless due to the lack of visible smoke or vapor. These products have no age restrictions, posing difficulty in monitoring student use. Authorities are urged to issue a health advisory notice, as current laws do not regulate non-tobacco nicotine products being sold in Ireland, highlighting a regulatory loophole.

January 20, 2025 by euroweeklynews.com

Children in Ireland are turning to unregulated nicotine pouches, known as 'nicopods,' to get a discreet nicotine high. These pouches, legal in Ireland but without age restrictions, are causing concern in schools due to addiction risks and their odorless, hard-to-detect nature. Parents and schools lack effective tools to address the issue, prompting calls for action to prevent a potential surge in teen nicotine use. School efforts, such as education programs, aim to tackle the problem, but critics argue more stringent measures are needed. Parents are advised to monitor children closely and discuss the dangers of nicotine addiction. The debate continues on whether to ban these pouches.

January 20, 2025 by independent.ie

From February 2026, annual licences costing up to €1,000 will be required for selling tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products in Ireland. The new licensing regime aims to deter retailers and reduce tobacco and vape availability. Licences must be obtained for each premises from the HSE. Retailers must be over 18, and licenses won't be issued for temporary locations. The National Environmental Health Service can revoke licences and publicize offenders. The initiative aligns with the government's goal of a tobacco-free Ireland and reducing youth and non-smokers' access to vapes. The law complements previous legislation banning sales to under-18s.

January 17, 2025 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

Norway is following Sweden's lead in reducing smoking rates by embracing snus over cigarettes, as highlighted by GSTHR. Snus offers a safer nicotine consumption alternative, leading to a significant decline in smoking, especially among young adults. Despite its efficacy, snus's harm reduction benefits are not widely promoted by Norwegian health authorities. The country's progress in tobacco harm reduction showcases the potential for consumer-driven initiatives to combat smoking. Norway stands out for its strict tobacco control measures and significant shift towards snus as a substitute for cigarettes, even without official endorsement. This trend indicates the impact of harm reduction strategies and consumer choices in reducing tobacco-related harms.

January 16, 2025 by dailyrecord.co.uk

Vaping has become popular as a substitute for smoking, with an increase in users in Scotland, including those under 16. While it is considered less harmful than smoking, vaping still poses health risks like addiction and lung damage. Hollyoaks star Paul Danan's recent death was attributed to excessive vaping, highlighting the potential dangers. The NHS warns of long-term health impacts, with concerns similar to those of traditional cigarettes. Belgium has banned e-cig sales due to health and environmental concerns, while Scotland and the UK plan to ban single-use vapes. The true extent of vaping's harm may not be fully realized for decades.

January 14, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu

A UK news channel is investigating illegal vapes containing synthetic cannabinoid "spice" amidst debates on vape regulations in Parliament. ITV News requested labs to test vape samples for spice. Spice, illegal in the UK, was found in black market vapes, posing severe health risks different from THC. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, addressing vape flavors but not spice vapes, is under consideration. Concerns arise about conflating legal and illegal vapes, as happened in the US. UKVIA stresses the safety of regulated nicotine vapes while warning against misinformation fueling anti-vape sentiments and potentially increasing smoking rates.

January 14, 2025 by aol.com

Canada implements new cigarette policy requiring individual cigarettes to display warnings such as "poison in every puff" to reduce smoking-related harm. Graphic images on cigarette boxes were mandated in 2001. Smoking on domestic flights was banned in 1994. The government aims to lower the smoking rate to under 5% by 2035. Anti-smoking measures have decreased smoking rates to 10.2%. Despite progress, nearly 50,000 Canadians die annually from smoking-related causes. Research shows warnings increase awareness. The new warnings will be in English and French. Phillip Morris International's Canadian branch supports the initiative.

January 13, 2025 by philenews.com

According to recent Eurobarometer data, one in four EU citizens smokes, with the highest rates found in eastern and southeastern Europe. Bulgaria leads with 37% smokers, followed by Greece (36%), Croatia (35%), and Romania (34%). Cyprus ranks seventh at 29%, while Sweden reports the lowest rate (8%), followed by the Netherlands (11%) and Denmark (14%). The survey highlights a gender gap in tobacco use, with 28% of men and 21% of women smoking. Over half of EU citizens (56%) have never smoked. Young men facing financial difficulties, particularly those aged 25-39 (32%), are the most likely to smoke.