Global - Clearing the Air

Sweden challenges French proposed nicotine pouch ban

The Swedish government has formally opposed France’s proposed ban on nicotine pouches. Following a similar legal challenge earlier this year against Spanish legislation to restrict nicotine pouches, Sweden has submitted a ‘Detailed Opinion’ to the European Union (EU) contesting France’s draft decree. …

News

Mexico’s crackdown on safer nicotine alternatives is costing thousands of lives, says global report

Mexico’s hardline approach to safer nicotine products is fueling a smoking crisis that claims 65,000 lives every year, according to a major new international report. The groundbreaking study, conducted by global health experts, highlights a sharp contrast between two nations. While Sweden…

News

And the award goes to: WHO rewards purveyors of bad policy and misinformation

The WHO has today announced its 2025 “World No Tobacco Day Awards” winners. We wondered how many were responsible for misinformation and bad policy on safer products. Turns out, quite a few. Given that the Director General of the WHO himself is…

Science News

Vapes may be easier to quit than cigarettes, new Vietnamese study suggests

Smokers who previously failed to quit cigarettes were more likely to successfully quit vaping People who perceived vaping to be more harmful than smoking were more likely to try quitting Dual users - those who vape and smoke - were less likely…

News

OPINION: If vaping kills, what else are they lying about?

Olivér Varhelyi’s appointment as EU Commissioner for Health wasn’t a slam dunk. Members of the European Parliament - wary of the Hungarian nominee’s close ties to the country’s autocratic leader Viktor Orban - wanted assurances that his views on abortion (it’s often…

News Harm Reduction

WHO faces severe budget cuts. Will that mean less disinformation around safer nicotine?

Officials at the World Health Organisation - whose anti-vaping messaging border on disinformation to the point where they are routinely called out on Twitter/X - are staring down the barrel of 25% staff cuts in the wake of Donald Trump’s decision to…

Legislation News

Court overturns vaping ban on Barcelona beaches

A vaping ban on Barcelona’s beaches has been overturned after a successful appeal from anti-smoking campaigners. The Former Smokers Association appealed against the local legislation that has been in force since July 2022. Being caught vaping or smoking on the seafront of…

News Harm Reduction

Spain risks undoing smoking success with vape ban, report warns

Spain is set to undo its recent drop in smoking rates by heavily restricting safer alternatives, a new report has warned. Last year, Ministry of Health statistics revealed an impressive 22 per cent decline in Spain’s daily smoking rates, which dropped from…

News Harm Reduction

Spain has made “no progress” in fight against smoking, leading psychologist warns

Spain has made “no progress in the fight against smoking” and should switch to Sweden’s more effective approach, a leading psychologist has warned. Karl Fagerström, clinical psychologist and creator of the widely-used nicotine dependence test, said Spain’s current prohibitive strategy is likely…

Subscribe to Newsletter