Stories

Quebec’s flavour ban has not eliminated demand for flavoured vaping products. Three years after its introduction, 77% of vapers still report using flavours covered by the restrictions, with fruit flavours remaining particularly popular.

The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of flavour bans and their potential to shift consumers towards informal or illicit markets. Tobacco harm reduction policies should consider real-world behaviour and preserve access to regulated alternatives for adults seeking to move away from cigarettes.

A study examining digital marketing exposure among 31 Aboriginal adults in Australia detected no e-cigarette advertising and very little tobacco promotion, despite including both categories in its assessment of unhealthy product marketing.

Most recorded exposure involved food, gambling and alcohol. However, the small sample and limited observation period mean the findings cannot establish broader population trends.

The analysis raises questions about drawing regulatory conclusions from preliminary evidence. Effective tobacco harm reduction policy requires distinguishing between observed findings, potential risks and assumptions about nicotine marketing.

People do not always assess risk according to scientific evidence. Psychological research shows that unfamiliar, invisible and uncontrollable threats often generate greater fear than well-known dangers, even when their actual risks are lower.

This helps explain why newer nicotine products can be perceived as more dangerous than cigarettes, despite substantially reducing exposure to many harmful toxicants.

Understanding how people perceive risk is essential to tobacco harm reduction. Public health communication must address both the scientific evidence and the psychological factors shaping consumer decisions.

The US FDA has authorised 24 additional nicotine pouch products, bringing the total to 67, while explicitly recognising their potential to help adults switch away from more harmful tobacco products.

The decision contrasts with the European Commission's position, which continues to question whether smoke-free nicotine alternatives reduce health risks compared with cigarettes, despite evidence of substantially lower toxicant exposure.

The differing approaches highlight the importance of incorporating relative risk into tobacco regulation. Scientific uncertainty about long-term effects should be acknowledged without overlooking the potential contribution of smoke-free products to tobacco harm reduction.

Young people may be more open to tobacco harm reduction than policymakers assume. A University of Sheffield study found that teenage participants supported presenting vapes more clearly as smoking cessation aids, while opposing flavour bans that could limit options for adults trying to quit cigarettes.

Instead, they favoured stricter controls on youth-oriented marketing, retailer enforcement and access through healthcare settings.

Although the study involved only five participants, it highlights the possibility of balancing youth protection with recognition of vaping's role in helping adults move away from combustible tobacco.

Palau's proposal to bring nicotine under the UN's international drug control system has raised concerns about the future of tobacco harm reduction.

The initiative seeks a WHO review of nicotine under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, potentially paving the way for restrictions extending beyond conventional tobacco regulation.

Critics argue that such an approach risks overlooking the significant differences between combustible cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products. International nicotine policy should distinguish dependence from smoking-related disease and assess whether additional controls would reduce harm or restrict access to lower-risk alternatives.

The 11th European Conference on Tobacco Control, held in Istanbul from 4–6 November, has raised concerns over proposals to bring nicotine under international drug control frameworks.

Campaigners are discussing support for Palau's initiative to review nicotine under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, potentially extending restrictions to smoke-free alternatives such as vapes and nicotine pouches.

Critics warn that such measures could undermine tobacco harm reduction by limiting access to lower-risk products while combustible cigarettes remain legally available. The debate highlights the importance of distinguishing nicotine dependence from smoking-related disease and assessing the potential public health consequences of further restrictions.

Nicotine pouches are increasingly being used as a smoking cessation aid in Great Britain, with their use among adults attempting to quit nearly tripling between 2021 and 2026.

New research involving almost 8,000 adults found an association between pouch use and greater quitting success among those not also using e-cigarettes, although the overall evidence remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Canada continues to restrict authorised nicotine pouch sales to pharmacies. The contrast raises questions about how regulation can balance consumer safety with access to potentially useful, lower-risk alternatives for adults who smoke.

Nicotine vaping can help adults quit smoking, but successful tobacco harm reduction involves more than simply replacing one product with another.

Clinical evidence supports e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation option, particularly for adults who struggle with traditional methods. Complete switching is important, as continued cigarette use alongside vaping may limit the potential health benefits.

Although long-term uncertainties remain, clear information about relative risk, personalised cessation support and realistic quitting plans can help smokers make informed decisions and move away from combustible tobacco.

The FDA's proposed overhaul of its Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) process has renewed hopes for a more predictable regulatory pathway for vaping products in the United States.

Years of shifting scientific requirements, widespread application denials and regulatory uncertainty have created significant challenges for independent manufacturers. Industry representatives are now calling for clearer approval standards and a workable framework for flavoured e-cigarettes.

The proposed reforms could help strengthen the legal vaping market while supporting tobacco harm reduction. However, their success will depend on whether regulatory changes translate into timely, evidence-based decisions and improved access to lower-risk alternatives for adult smokers.