Stories

The FDA is considering approving Phillip Morris International's Zyn pouches as a less harmful alternative for smokers. FDA experts are inclined towards approval, though concerns about underage use and marketing efficacy remain. Zyn, with various flavors, is a fast-growing product in the tobacco industry. Phillip Morris aims to promote Zyn as reducing risks associated with smoking-related diseases. Evidence supports Zyn's potential health benefits, but long-term studies and impact on smokers switching are lacking. FDA must also assess potential harm to young people despite low teenage use of nicotine pouches.

Although smoking rates have dropped to their lowest levels since their peak in the 1960s and 1970s, worries are rising about a possible resurgence as tobacco companies target younger people via social media. Data from the Australian National University show that 24,000 Australians die each year from smoking-related causes, and experts caution that the country now faces the danger of complacency.

Even though new data show that alternatives such as vaping are helping thousands of Canadians stop smoking, the Liberal government continues to maintain strict restrictions on these nicotine replacement products. In 2024, around 300,000 Canadians successfully quit smoking, yet federal rules on many nicotine replacement options remain unchanged.

The AMA NSW submitted strategies to reduce nicotine consumption, focusing on tackling illegal tobacco trade, tightening tobacco regulations, enhancing educational campaigns, and assisting individuals to quit. The submission emphasizes the ineffectiveness of reducing tobacco excise in combating illegal trade, calling for evidence-based solutions. Measures include limiting tobacco shopfronts, banning specific nicotine products, and improving youth education on vaping risks. The AMA stresses the importance of prevention through educating minors and vulnerable groups. Initiatives aim to inform individuals about the implications of nicotine use and discourage smoking, reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing smoking rates and illegal trade concerns.

British American Tobacco shocked investors two years ago with a £27bn writedown of its US cigarette brands, causing its shares to fall amid declining cigarette sales and political pressure on vaping. Contrary to expectations, the company’s shares have since risen nearly 90%, lifting its market value to £92bn and making it the UK’s sixth most valuable company. This performance has outpaced even Nvidia over the past year, while rival Imperial Brands has also grown to a £24bn market capitalisation.

Government-backed schemes promoting vaping have led to a significant drop in smoking rates across UK, with places like Richmond-upon-Thames achieving a 5.3% smoking rate, close to the national "smoke-free" goal. Richmond's successful Stop Smoking Service, offering free vape kits and assistance, has helped over 178 residents quit smoking in a year. This approach is supported by evidence of vaping being less harmful than cigarettes and an effective quitting aid. Similar successful initiatives, like Swap to Stop in Dorset, have helped thousands switch to vaping, showing health and financial benefits. Quitting smoking can save individuals around £285 monthly.

A new European Heart Journal report has reignited the debate over nicotine, heart health, and harm reduction. In this GFN News interview, Will Godfrey of Filter examines the claims that all forms of nicotine pose equal cardiovascular risk and the strong backlash from independent experts. The discussion explores criticisms of the report’s scientific approach, evidence from population studies, and concerns that its conclusions could influence upcoming EU tobacco, taxation, and health policies. With Europe already facing the world’s highest smoking rates, the video asks whether this narrative could undermine harm reduction efforts and discourage smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives.

Georgia aims to be tobacco-free by 2040 but faces challenges due to increasing use of e-cigarettes. Despite progress in reducing tobacco use, consumption rates are high. The Tobacco Control Alliance urges action, emphasizing the need to curb alternative nicotine product use, particularly among the youth. To achieve the tobacco endgame policy, measures include taxing all tobacco equally, joining the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and implementing plain packaging. Other recommendations involve restricting flavors, raising the legal age for tobacco purchase, and enforcing stricter regulations. Public support for these actions is high, emphasizing the need for political commitment to prioritize public health over tobacco industry interests.

A study led by Queen Mary University of London found that smokers who quit with e-cigarettes and continue vaping may reduce the risk of relapse back to smoking. Compared to nicotine replacement therapies, e-cigarette use showed higher effectiveness in helping smokers stay smoke-free. Continuing vaping was associated with lower relapse rates, suggesting it could have a positive health impact. The study highlights the importance of further research to confirm these findings over a longer period.

Banning vape flavors can lead to increased cigarette sales, as shown by a study in Canada. Research demonstrates that restrictions on vape flavors backfire, causing a spike in cigarette purchases. Despite strict tobacco laws, flavor bans have proven counterproductive. Experts highlight the substitution effect between vapes and cigarettes, emphasizing the need for evidence-based public health policies. Advocates urge policymakers to consider the unintended consequences of flavor bans, which can undermine harm reduction efforts and public trust in health authorities. Calls for a science-based approach to regulating nicotine products aim to protect access to safer alternatives and prevent harmful outcomes.