April 2023
States Target Tobacco Taxes
The 2023 state legislative year is underway and there are several state legislatures that have bills to raise cigarette, tobacco and vape taxes and ban flavored tobacco products. During this legislative cycle many states have introduced bills to increase cigarette/OTP and vapor taxes. So far, a total of 23 states have introduced legislation in 2023. These states include Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii,...
Britain to encourage smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes
Up to one million smokers will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for "vapes", with pregnant women offered financial incentives to make the change in what will be a world first, the British government said on Tuesday. Under the scheme, almost one in five smokers will be given a vape - an e-cigarette - starter kit...
Serbia clamps down e-cigarette sales to minors
Sellers of e-cigarettes and similar products will be fined around €430 for selling to minors, according to a recent amendment to the Law on Consumer Protection. In Serbia, minors can purchase e-cigarettes and other products such as vapes in local markets, kiosks, and even in coffee shops, though sellers will now be fined for selling...
Vaping: Free e-cigarettes to be handed out in anti-smoking drive
One million smokers will be given a free vaping starter kit to encourage them to give up tobacco products. Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking as part of a package of measures in England unveiled by the government on Tuesday. A consultation will be launched on compelling cigarette manufacturers to put...
Malaysia: Tobacco Control Council Calls for Measures to Limit Nicotine Harm
The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) has called for the government to look into measures to limit harm and exposure of youth to nicotine after the Health Ministry exempted nicotine liquids and gels from the Poisons Act 1952, reports The Star. “We are deeply aggrieved by the decision of the Health Ministry and the government...
Shisha smoking could be conduit for hard drugs use
In Summary • There are some frightening facts linked to smoking of the pipe among them being that shisha smoke contains high levels of chemicals and poisons • Shisha smokers naively try to downplay the negative effects of their use by claiming that the toxins contained in the shisha tobacco are eliminated after passing through water Shisha...
CSOs appeal to President to sign Excise Duty Amendment Bill into law
Accra, April 6, GNA – The Ghana NCD Alliance and its partners have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sign the Excise Duty Amendment Bill, 2022 into law to save the lives of the citizenry from diseases and deaths. The other partners were the University of Ghana School of Public Health, Ghana Academy of...
Public Health Experts Urge Kenya To Adopt Swedish Model To Reduce Smoking Prevalence
Nairobi, Kenya Apr 6 – Public health experts have urged Kenyan lawmakers to adopt the pioneering example set by Sweden, to encourage Kenyans to quit smoking. Sweden is set to become the first country in the world to achieve ‘smoke-free’ status when its tobacco smoking prevalence rate falls below 5% in the next few months based...