Tim Hong - Clearing the Air

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Belgium seizes 140,000 illegal disposable vapes after sales ban

Belgium has seized more than 140,000 disposable vapes since the start of 2025, following the introduction of a nationwide ban on their sale that took effect on January 1. Belgium’s Federal Public Health Service said it has seized 140,019 disposable vapes so…

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Vaping to be regulated like smoking as Spain tightens health laws in 2026

Vaping in Spain is set to face its toughest regulatory reset to date, with proposed legislation that would place vapes under the same legal framework as combustible tobacco. The changes form part of a broader package of health reforms moving through Parliament,…

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Vape crackdown risks sidelining older smokers trying to quit

As the UK clamps down on youth vaping, new evidence suggests the approach could have unintended consequences for older smokers. Research shows that over-55s are the most likely to use vaping to give up cigarettes, but current proposals under the Tobacco and…

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Mexico threatens eight years of jail in crackdown on vape sales

Mexico is moving to impose some of the world’s harshest penalties on vaping. New legal reforms would criminalise the production and sale of vapes nationwide. The Senate has passed changes to the General Health Law that would allow authorities to impose prison…

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Panic over vapes, opioids and Dutch teens – what the science actually says

Two recent stories - Dutch teens “flooding” hospitals after vaping and Belgian kids supposedly being “hooked” on hidden opioids in vapes - sound terrifying. They also risk seriously misleading the public about what’s really going on with youth nicotine and drugs. Let’s…

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Love Island’s Shakira reveals the villa’s secret ‘vape box’

Love Island star Shakira Khan has revealed a long-kept production detail from inside the villa: a designated “vape box” where Islanders’ devices are stored out of sight from cameras. The 22-year-old finalist shared the information during an Instagram Q&A, when a fan…

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Illegal vapes still on sale as fires surge six months after UK ban

Six months after the disposable vape ban, illicit products are still widely available. Waste companies are also reporting daily fires caused by discarded vapes, casting serious doubt on whether the crackdown is working. A return visit by LBC to Nottingham found that…

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Russia steps up anti-vape crackdown with new regional retail ban

Russia has taken another significant step toward eliminating legal vape sales as one of its regions approved a full retail ban effective from March 1, 2026. The law, introduced by Governor Dmitry Makhonin and passed after two readings, prohibits sales of all…

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Youth vaping halves in New Zealand

Youth vaping in New Zealand has fallen sharply, with new national data showing regular use has halved in just two years. The findings come from the latest ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey, which polls more than 30,000 students each year. It’s a…

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