Stories

The Supreme Court decision allows the FDA to restrict sales of fruit- and candy-flavored vapes, applauded by health advocates and conservationists. The ruling aims to deter teen vaping, as 87% use flavored products. Despite claims that these flavors help smokers quit, the FDA argues the harm to youth outweighs any potential benefits. The ban faces potential reversal by the new administration. Vaping poses health risks, with nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals, while also contributing to plastic pollution due to improper disposal of single-use vapes and lithium batteries. Recycling vaping products is challenging.

The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, ratified in 2005, aims to reduce tobacco use but has become influenced by Michael R. Bloomberg's agenda. The FCTC, aligned with Bloomberg Philanthropies' MPOWER strategy, focuses on taxation and advertising bans, neglecting harm-reduction tools like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products that have successfully lowered smoking rates. Bloomberg-funded groups push for bans, contradicting their support for harm reduction in drug policy. This inconsistency affects global tobacco control, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence shows harm reduction works, but Bloomberg's policies often overlook local contexts, exacerbate illicit trade, and lack scientific basis, highlighting the need for balanced, evidence-based tobacco control strategies.

Sweden's tobacco harm reduction success story has failed to win over Europe's politicians and regulators, with a new nicotine pouch tax rumoured to be in the works. Will the real-world impact of nicotine pouches in reducing smoking rates convince law makers to change their minds? Joining us today is Stefan Mathisson, editor-in-chief of Vejpkollen, who will walk us through the rapid rise of nicotine pouches, and the backlash brewing, in Europe.

A study by UCL suggests vaping rates are stable despite a shift from disposable to reusable vapes before the UK's ban. Researchers found that vaping rates increased among adults and young adults, then remained stable post-ban announcement. Disposable vape use decreased, especially among 16 to 24-year-olds. Experts recommend caution in implementing stricter policies to avoid discouraging smokers from using vapes to quit. Public health advocates see potential in planned regulations to address youth vaping while supporting smoking cessation in adults. The upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to regulate e-cigarette packaging, marketing, and flavors to prevent targeting children.

Vendors on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok are continuing to sell e-cigarettes and related products by disguising them with names such as “fruit syrup,” “nose inhalers,” or “aroma machines.” Some livestream sellers hide these items among regular products like toothbrushes and perfumes to avoid detection. In Ho Chi Minh City, a Facebook group with over 13,000 members actively trades vaping devices, with daily posts offering products ranging in price from VND100,000 to over VND1 million. At the same time, many young people continue using e-cigarettes in public places, highlighting ongoing concerns about regulation and public health.

The World Vapers’ Alliance expresses concern over the EU's proposed nicotine tax increase, including a 30% raise in cigarette prices and higher taxes on vaping products. The alliance warns that this move would disproportionately affect low-income smokers, hinder quitting efforts, and fuel anti-EU sentiments. Director Michael Landl criticizes the Commission for overlooking public health and social implications, urging a reversal of the harmful taxation plans. Landl emphasizes the need to incentivize smokers to switch to safer alternatives by lowering taxes on products like vaping. The WVA calls on the EU to prioritize citizens' well-being and reconsider the detrimental tax hike proposal.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling for an urgent review of funding to the WHO’s Western Pacific and Southeast Asia offices, citing governance failures, health inequalities, and corruption concerns. Despite leadership changes and reform promises, CAPHRA claims the WHO continues to prioritize bureaucracy over real action, especially as tobacco-related deaths and noncommunicable diseases remain high. The group warns that continued funding risks supporting a broken system that fails to address critical regional health issues.

Following Utah's ban on flavored vape products, many residents are now driving across state lines to Wyoming to purchase their favorite items. Vape shops in border towns like Evanston have seen a sharp increase in sales, with customers from various Utah counties buying in bulk to avoid making frequent trips. Shoppers expressed frustration over the ban, saying they prefer flavored options over tobacco or menthol, and criticized the inconsistency in what substances are allowed. Store managers report that business has significantly increased since the ban took effect.

Smoking rates remain high in the UAE and Middle East but new smoke-free nicotine alternatives entering the market could be critical to efforts to help people kick the habit. The UAE has approved the sale of synthetic nicotine pouches - subject to sellers meeting safety standards set out by the government - which are taken orally and held under the gum for about 40 minutes to gradually release a nicotine dose.

Currently, only some vaping products are labeled as “flavored,” even though all of them contain added flavors—including those that taste like tobacco or menthol. In reality, vaping products fall into two categories: those that mimic the taste of combustible cigarettes (tobacco and menthol) and those that do not. A more accurate terminology would be to refer to them as “cigarette-flavored” and “non-cigarette flavored.” This would better reflect the truth that there are no unflavored vaping products on the market, and that, although deemed “tobacco products” by the FDA, these products do not actually contain tobacco.