The mendacity of ASH
October 01, 2026 by substack.com
The mendacity of ASH
Trust is fragile when public health organisations appear to bend evidence around a preferred message. In tobacco policy, that matters because smokers rely on official voices to understand the difference between cigarettes, vaping, pouches and other lower-risk products. Selective claims may win a debate in the short term, but they can weaken confidence in the institutions meant to guide people away from harm. Honest communication should be able to defend tobacco control without distorting harm reduction.
11.80% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 6.7 million current smokers in United Kingdom 13.60% of men are current smokers but only 10.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
