Action on Smoking Health (UK)

👉You can read more about this here: ash.org.uk/uploads/Poll...

Today, Peers meet again to debate the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

One key area for debate today is the polluter pays levy on tobacco manufacturers, a measure that could generate £700 million a year 💷🚭

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill – why we need to be careful with international comparisons | British Politics and Policy at LSE International comparisons when it comes to parliamentary debate about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill needs further scrutiny.

Such a compelling and timely piece as peers are debating the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
🌍Looking abroad for lessons is vital, but when international comparisons lack accuracy or context, they risk undermining robust debate.
👉 blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

📻Listen to @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social on LBC News as she discusses the letter signed by over 1,200 health experts urging the swift passage of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill.

This Bill is vital to protect the health of future generations - we can’t afford further delay!

Peter Roderick from @adphuk.bsky.social shares why the Tobacco & Vapes Bill is so important for public health:

“Smoking doesn’t just kill smokers. It also kills a significant number of non-smokers, including infants and children."

120 voices, 120,000 reasons to sign.

@swoolnoughtkf.bsky.social from @thekingsfund.bsky.social shares her reason:

"Until recently, the creation of a society free from the harms of tobacco would have felt like a pipe dream, but now it is within ministers’ grasp."

Why is the Tobacco & Vapes Bill so urgent? Dr Ian Walker from @cancerresearchuk.org puts it perfectly:

"Supporting this world-leading Bill will help to protect future generations from a lifetime of deadly, costly addiction and bring us closer to ending cancers caused by smoking."

With 120,000 new young smokers since Nov last year, Sarah Sleet from @asthmaandlung.org.uk has joined 1200 others calling for action.

She said "these figures show the tragic consequences of delaying this lifesaving legislation while smoking remains the biggest cause of lung disease death in the UK"

@thebhf.bsky.social's Dr Charmaine Griffiths added her voice to 1200 others calling for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be urgently passed.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths said "we can’t afford to delay, as every day of inaction puts more young lives at risk of future heart disease and early death"

In Parliament today as peers meet for the first time in Committee on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill 🚭

2 key amendments today
💰 A polluter pays levy on the tobacco industry to raise £700m a year
🛣️ A roadmap to a smokefree country, every 5 years to help everyone to quit for good!

📢 Over 1,200 public health professionals have written to health spokespeople from all parties, urging swift passage of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill - a historic chance to protect future generations. 🚭✨

✉️ Read the letter: shorturl.at/4Miyl

Over 1,200 health leaders call for swift passage of UK tobacco and vapes bill Experts publish letter as peers prepare to scrutinise draft legislation six months after its second Commons reading

👏 Peers meet today for the first Committee session on the Tobacco & Vapes Bill (finally!)

ASH analysis shows around ~120,000 young people (18–24) have started smoking since the Bill was first introduced last November. 🚭 It's time to act.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Fantastic to read @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social's article explaining both the environmental and health harms of cigarette filters! 🚭🌎

What does the Tobacco and Vapes Bill actually do? - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read more about the Bill in our blog: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

🚭 Modelling shows that raising the age of sale could prevent nearly half a million cases of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer & more by 2100
💰 Saving lives and billions for the NHS & care system. (5/5)

Killer Tactics 2: Business as Usual - ASH This report from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) and the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), a follow-up to 2024’s Killer Tactics report, tells the story of how health...

📝Pleased to see @ashorguk.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social & @oha-updates.bsky.social have published their latest report.

Funded by CRUK, they spotlight the tactics used by the tobacco, alcohol and food industry to undermine public health policies in the past year.

👇Read it here: bit.ly/4o86ags

Majority of Public Support Smokefree Generation as New Polling Shows Overwhelming Public Backing for Tougher Action on Tobacco - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

You can read more about this data here: ash.org.uk/media-centre...

📊ASH data shows that the smokefree generation policy is supported overwhelmingly by the public:

🏆68% of people back the policy

✅ Majority support spans voters of all main political parties.

🚬 Over half of people who smoke also support the policy. (4/5)

👀Killer Tactics 2: Business as Usual

The latest report from @ashorguk.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social @oha-updates.bsky.social

Includes updated 'bingo' style game to help spot common tactics.

ash.org.uk/resources/vi...

How have big businesses used tried & tested lobbying tactics to attempt to derail public health policy?

🚬 Tobacco industry moves to derail the Tobacco & Vapes Bill
🍷 Alcohol lobbyists watering down government ambition
🍔 Junk food giants delaying the ad ban

Find out...👇

🚬Adults who currently smoke will be unaffected by this policy; it will only apply to children born after 1 Jan 2009.

🧑‍🧒‍🧒No one wants their children to smoke, and this policy will ensure future generations are free from the harms of tobacco. (3/5)

On Monday, the Tobacco & Vapes Bill reaches the Committee stage in the @houseoflords.parliament.uk .

Smoking kills 64,000 people in the UK every year, including infants & children.

Every day, 350 young people start smoking regularly

🚭It is vital the Bill is passed without further delay.

🚭The smokefree generation policy will mean that anyone born on/after 1 Jan 2009 will never be able to legally be sold tobacco.

🔦This means that the age of sale will go up by one year, every year until eventually no one will be able to be sold tobacco. (2/5)

🎉On Monday, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill returns to Parliament

🚭The Bill will create a world-leading ‘smokefree generation’, but what does this mean in practice? 💡(1/5)

Study warns of surging obesity-related cancers among older adults Scientists say accumulation of fat can induce inflammation, alter hormone levels, disrupt cell metabolism, and foster a pro-carcinogenic environment

The good news hidden in this study is that rates of several cancers fell among younger people, likely reflecting effective public health measures, including on tobacco. A success story we can learn from to tackle other preventable risk factors.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...

Illicit tobacco: facts, trends and industry tactics - ASH Illicit/illegal tobacco refers to any tobacco products sold illegally in the UK, including smuggled genuine products, duty-free cigarettes sold on the black market, and counterfeit or fake tobacco. Il...

Our new explainer sets out the facts on how the UK illicit tobacco market has changed, what’s being done to tackle it, and how the industry keeps using it as a lobbying tool. 3/3
🔗 ash.org.uk/key-topics/i...

🚭With the Tobacco & Vapes Bill returning to Parliament shortly, we are seeing an increase in industry lobbying, trying to to stir up concern about illicit tobacco to undermine the Bill.
Get the facts here 👇 2/3

💡Did you know the number of illicit cigarettes smoked in the UK has fallen by almost 90% since 2000, but the tobacco industry still exploits concern about illicit sales to fight regulation and protect profits... 1/3

Happy Diwali to those celebrating.

Dr Chris Van Tulleken shares what most people don’t know about cigarette filters! 🌍🚭