Read articles from Europe

November 04, 2025 by independent.ie

Tax hikes in Ireland, doubling vape prices, concern addicts quitting cigarettes and impact smokers. The Department of Health targets youth vaping but faces backlash. Irish Heart Foundation supports tax due to rising youth vaping rates. Vape shop owners fear black market growth and loss of adult customers. UK plans similar vape tax next year. Responsible Vaping Ireland backs the tax for public health. Enforcement and restrictions on flavors and sales are proposed. Vape shops foresee challenges in compliance and business sustainability amid rising prices.

November 04, 2025 by bbc.com

Vaping surpasses smoking in the UK, with 5.4 million adults using vapes compared to 4.9 million smoking cigarettes in 2024. Daily vape use is popular among 25-49-year-olds and rising among women. The NHS states vaping poses fewer risks than smoking due to fewer harmful chemicals. Currently, 10% of UK adults use e-cigarettes, slightly more than smokers. Efforts to reduce smoking include bans on indoor smoking, smoking in cars with children, plain cigarette packaging, and future legislation prohibiting tobacco sales to those born after 2009. Concerns about vapes appealing to children have led to plans for stricter packaging rules. Usage among 16-24-year-olds has slightly decreased from 2023.

November 03, 2025 by london-tv.co.uk

Five London boroughs, including Ealing, Croydon, Barking, Harrow, and Camden, show high smoking rates per ONS data. Ealing stands out with a 22% rate, 92% above the national average. Harrow and Bromley have doubled rates in a year. Despite concerns, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Richmond upon Thames feature the lowest rates. Nationally, smoking remains at 11.9%, the lowest since 2011. Vaping is noted as a safer quitting tool, but negative perceptions may hinder progress. Education on vaping risks versus benefits is urged to address rising smoking rates in specific areas as per Vape Club’s findings.

November 03, 2025 by lse.ac.uk

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the UK aims to end tobacco sales to those born after 2009, with stricter regulations on nicotine products. The Bill faces criticism for misrepresenting international examples in debates. New Zealand's repeal of tobacco measures is linked to industry interference, not effectiveness issues. Australia's illicit tobacco market issues stem from weak enforcement, not regulation. Sweden's success in tobacco control is attributed to comprehensive policies, not just snus use. The UK Bill aims to regulate new nicotine products like pouches and address marketing to minors. Utilizing accurate international evidence is crucial for effective public health policy. Parliamentary debates impact global tobacco control approaches.

October 31, 2025 by thejournal.ie

Starting tomorrow, a new tax of 50c per ml on e-liquid products in Ireland will increase vaping costs. The tax includes both nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids, affecting prices significantly. To protect public health, the Minister for Finance stated the tax aims to curb youth consumption. Legislation is being drafted to ban single-use vapes and regulate flavors and packaging. A recent Lancet study shows a rise in nicotine use, especially among young people, linking it to vape availability since 2019. The tax reflects Ireland's dedication to public health amidst concerns over the increasing popularity of vapes among the youth.

October 31, 2025 by delano.lu

Luxembourg is enhancing its public health policy with Bill 8333, aligning anti-smoking laws with EU regulations. The bill bans flavorings in heated tobacco products, enforces health warnings, and sets marketing restrictions. It regulates nicotine pouches, limiting nicotine content and banning additives. Reactions are mixed, with health organizations supporting the stricter measures while the Chamber of Commerce criticizes potential economic impacts. The Council of State approved the bill in July 2025, and it will take effect soon.

October 30, 2025 by brusselssignal.eu

Brussels has released a revised compromise proposal for the EU's position on the WHO's FCTC, aiming for consensus among 27 nations. The softened document addresses contentious issues like tobacco product regulation, harm reduction, and advertising. It emphasizes evidence-based approaches and individual party policies, reflecting lobbying and FCTC debates. The EU now advocates for proportionate regulation of alternative nicotine products based on scientific evidence. The draft retains measures to reduce single-use plastics in tobacco products but shifts away from binding mandates. Despite dismissing harm reduction as an "industry narrative", the proposal shows a more moderate stance on vaping and nicotine pouches, allowing for national discretion.

October 30, 2025 by filtermag.org

Higher nicotine level pouches are crucial for tobacco harm reduction, tailoring doses to individual needs. A study in Sweden shows increased nicotine delivery and satisfaction with modern pouches. Findings support previous research on safer nicotine products aiding heavy smokers in quitting. FDA authorization for certain pouches is a step forward, yet limited to 6 mg nicotine content. Advocates emphasize the importance of higher doses for effective harm reduction. Some European regulations restricting dosage risk hindering smoking cessation efforts. Lax regulations in Sweden have significantly reduced smoking rates, contrasting with stricter approaches in other European countries. Learning from successful models is crucial in tackling smoking-related deaths globally.

October 28, 2025 by clivebates.com

In the history of wrongness, it is hard to find greater wrongness than uncritical support for the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The legislation is likely to do more harm than good, yet attracts widespread but uncritical support. The UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill is steadily making its way toward becoming law, facing almost no opposition and reportedly enjoying the backing of 1,200 “health leaders,” according to The Guardian.

October 28, 2025 by daily-pouch.com

The Department of Health will advocate harm reduction through vaping at the upcoming Geneva COP 11 conference. The UK government supports the use of vapes as a safer alternative to smoking, emphasizing its effectiveness in helping adults quit smoking. Health Minister Ashley Dalton reiterated the government's stance on vaping being less harmful than smoking while warning against non-smokers and young individuals using vapes. Advocates, like We Vape, urge for clear public communication to dispel misconceptions about vaping. The WHO, despite facing criticism for anti-vaping policies, will host COP 11 in Geneva. The UK's substantial financial support to the WHO reinforces its influence.