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December 29, 2025 by vaping360.com

As vaping becomes more popular, governments see it as a new source of tax revenue. Because many vapers are current or former smokers, money spent on e-cigarettes often replaces spending on traditional tobacco, reducing tobacco tax income. Governments have long relied on tobacco taxes and want to recover this lost revenue. Whether vaping should be taxed like tobacco is less important to policymakers than the financial impact. Since vaping resembles smoking and faces public health criticism, politicians find it easy to justify taxing it, often using debatable health arguments.

December 22, 2025 by gfn.tv

As policymakers look ahead to 2026, experts share one clear hope for tobacco harm reduction: protect vape flavors. In this discussion, Dr. Garrett McGovern and AG Tom Miller explains why flavors are critical to keeping adults away from smoking - and why banning them could backfire, leading to higher cigarette use, including among youth.

December 22, 2025 by brownstone.org

Caffeine is socially accepted and even praised, while nicotine is often stigmatized as a vice. Both substances are mild stimulants that increase alertness and can lead to dependence. Neither is inherently harmful in non-combustible forms, yet society treats them very differently. This contrast reflects cultural attitudes rather than scientific evidence. Essentially, the moral judgment placed on nicotine is inconsistent with its actual effects compared to caffeine.

December 19, 2025 by thenews.com.pk

Nicotine pouch use is rising among young men due to targeted marketing, with about 7.5% of 16-24-year-old men using them. Many users also smoke or vape, with some trying to quit smoking. The effectiveness of pouches in smoking cessation needs further study. Sales are increasing, driven by youthful consumers. Regulations are being considered to restrict sales to under 18 and control marketing. The study suggests monitoring the new regulations to balance harm reduction potential. Nicotine pouches are banned in some countries and facing restrictions in others.

December 19, 2025 by euractiv.com

EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated that alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches are just as harmful as traditional cigarettes, rejecting claims that they are safer. He cited recent data linking these products to cardiovascular risks and warned that their impact may be even worse among young people. A new report shows vaping in the EU increased by 45%, reaching 4% of people aged 15 and over in 2024, raising concerns about the spread of new nicotine habits.

December 19, 2025 by brownstone.org

The POUCH Act of 2024 would prevent states and cities from banning FDA-authorized lower-risk nicotine products like pouches and vapes, asserting that products deemed appropriate for public health should not be prohibited for political or fiscal reasons. Though modest, the bill represents a rare move toward more rational federal harm-reduction policy. At the same time, it highlights deeper systemic problems in U.S. nicotine regulation, including the protection of cigarette sales, government revenue interests, and regulatory barriers that disadvantage smaller innovators.

December 18, 2025 by euractiv.com

Several EU countries are considering changes to single-market rules to limit how much tobacco individuals can bring across borders. Denmark, holding the EU Council presidency, proposed this during early December talks on revising the Tobacco Taxation Directive. The proposal aims to balance disagreements between countries pushing for higher tobacco taxes and those opposing them by combining softer tax increases with stricter limits on intra-EU tobacco imports.

December 18, 2025 by filtermag.org

Technology is reshaping the methadone industry, aiming to increase efficiency and profit. Companies like Opio are introducing robotic machines like ZING to speed up the dosing process and reduce nurse turnover. ZING Satellite extends this technology to remote locations, monitored by DEA-approved cameras. While these innovations aim to improve access, they raise concerns about dehumanizing patient care. Despite technological advancements, the root issue lies in the lack of accessible, non-stigmatizing opioid treatment. Ultimately, the focus should shift towards community-based solutions rather than complex and expensive tech fixes like ZING.

December 18, 2025 by bostonherald.com

Communities like Ashland and Westminster resist oppressive "nicotine-free generation" laws that ban tobacco for anyone born after a certain date. The pushback warns against undemocratic tactics and emphasizes the importance of civil liberties. Advocates argue that such laws fail to curb smoking and only create more problems. The backlash against these policies continues to grow as more towns reject them, advocating for education over bans. The narrative underscores the need to protect adult rights, transparency, and democratic processes. Stoughton is encouraged to reject similar legislations to safeguard individual liberties and prevent regulatory overreach.

December 17, 2025 by gfn.tv

As 2026 approaches, policymakers face a critical choice: continue repeating failed tobacco strategies or finally listen to science, consumers, and real-world evidence. In this discussion, Fiona Patten and Fernando Bueno examine why Australia’s tobacco tax revenue has collapsed, how harm reduction products like vaping are being wrongly regulated, and what countries like Sweden and New Zealand have done differently to dramatically cut smoking rates. The message is clear: less ideology, more evidence and a smarter, risk-based approach to public health.