Stories

Smoking and vaping are public health challenges. Despite anti-smoking efforts in the US, new cigarette users are rising, partly due to celebrities' influence. Vapes were meant to help smokers but turned into a new epidemic with counterfeit products. Nicotine pouches offer a tobacco-free alternative, showing promise. The US should learn from the UK's stricter regulations, raising the legal age for tobacco and proposing a ban on nicotine products for youth. Industry and government collaboration is crucial to prevent youth nicotine use. The focus should be on aiding adult smokers and avoiding creating a new generation of nicotine users. Achieving a tobacco-free world is possible.

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.

A survey revealed 1 in 8 teenagers aged 14-17 have used nicotine pouches, raising concerns about addiction. Although pouches don’t increase cancer risk, there are worries about nicotine dependence and oral health issues. Most teens obtain them from friends or stores without age restrictions. The UK plans to tighten regulations on sales to minors and decrease appeal through packaging and flavors. Notable brands include Velo, Nordic Spirit, and Zyn, leading to increased warnings from health experts about nicotine's heart and vascular toxicity. While some view pouches as less harmful than cigarettes or vapes, regulations aim to prevent youth addiction. The tobacco and vapes bill will address underage sales to safeguard public health.

Suely Castro raised the question of our responsibility to science and fairness in promoting safer alternatives like oral snus and nicotine pouches to reduce smoking-related deaths. Events promoting tobacco harm reduction face challenges from skeptics like Clive Bates, who debate the effectiveness of such approaches. Global debates on harm reduction policies, conference restrictions, and the importance of differential taxes on nicotine products were discussed. Experts highlighted the need for open dialogue, consumer input, and tailored approaches to reduce harm effectively. Encouraging a clash of ideas and pragmatic strategies is seen as crucial to saving lives in public health endeavors.

Proposed ban on flavored vapes by the government may hinder smoking cessation efforts for adults while failing to address underage sales concerns. Health Minister's plan could impact thousands benefiting from flavored vapes to quit smoking. Proper regulation on underage sales is suggested as a more effective approach.

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.

The UK's crackdown on youth vaping may impact older adults who rely on e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Research shows over-55s use vaping for cigarette cessation but the Tobacco and Vapes Bill could hinder their access to vaping tools. In a survey, 87% of adults over 55 started vaping to quit smoking, compared to 49% in 45-54 age group and 18% among 18-24 year olds. Older vapers report improved wellbeing and health benefits post-switch, emphasizing their serious approach to quitting. Advocates call for tailored protections, not total bans, to ensure older adults can access accurate information and make informed choices.

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.

A ban on single-use vapes proposed by the Government may cost €3.1m yearly to enforce. This cost includes funding for 40 full-time HSE posts. The aim is to reduce vaping among youth, with potential public health benefits and impacts on the industry. The law will stop single-use vape sales in Ireland, targeting waste and environmental issues. The Government sees it as crucial for protecting children. The ban may affect industry profits, depending on consumer actions. The focus is on reducing youth vaping and any subsequent rise in smoking rates. Additional expenses are expected for further e-cigarette legislation enforcement.

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.