Read articles from Europe

April 25, 2024 by irishmirror.ie

A cancer researcher suggests raising the tobacco purchase age in Ireland to 21 to combat smoking rates. The European Cancer Organisation reports that smoking-related deaths are high in Ireland, urging for a 'Tobacco 21' approach. The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland backs this, showing that raising the legal age could cut smoking rates among teens and young adults. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly supports this change to discourage minors from smoking. The initiative aims to protect younger age groups from the harmful effects of smoking. Ireland is urged to implement stricter tobacco regulations to create a smoke-free generation and reduce smoking-related deaths.

April 25, 2024 by irishexaminer.com

New research by the World Health Organisation found widespread alcohol consumption and e-cigarette use among teenagers, with girls matching or surpassing boys in smoking and substance use by age 15. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, and e-cigarettes are more popular than conventional cigarettes. Calls for protective measures include increased taxes, restricted availability, and strict advertising bans. Drunkenness rates rise from 5% at age 13 to 20% at 15. E-cigarette use stands at 32%, surpassing cigarettes at 25%. Cannabis use has decreased, but early use can lead to dependency. Gender gaps in substance use are shrinking, prompting the need for targeted prevention strategies.

April 25, 2024 by un.org

WHO reports alarming rates of alcohol and e-cigarette experimentation among European teenagers, with 57% trying alcohol and 32% trying e-cigarettes by age 15. Dr. Kluge emphasizes the need for preventive measures due to the negative impact on adolescent brain development. Cannabis use has slightly decreased, while girls are catching up with or surpassing boys in substance use. WHO urges action against the marketing of harmful substances to youth and suggests strategies like taxation and advertising bans to reduce adolescent substance abuse.

April 24, 2024 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

The UK Vaping Industry Association supports the Royal College of Physicians' report on vaping and smoking cessation, warning against potential flavor bans. It praises the report's emphasis on reducing youth vaping, improving healthcare advice, and cracking down on rogue traders. The association urges the government to consider the report's evidence-based recommendations, highlighting vaping's role in helping smokers quit. It also stresses the importance of maintaining diverse flavors, proper packaging, and regulatory control to support smokers switching to e-cigarettes. The industry aligns with the report's goal of reducing smoking-related health inequalities and promoting vaping as a safer alternative.

April 24, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com

The Royal College of Physicians' report emphasizes the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation but calls for measures to reduce appeal to nonsmokers. It suggests decreasing youth vaping through standardized packaging, flavor restrictions, and retail display bans. The report recommends affordable pricing for adult quit-smokers while deterring youth by taxing disposable e-cigarettes. Researchers stress the need for further studies on vaping health risks and urge regulators to limit the influence of cigarette manufacturers on policy development. They propose regular updates on nicotine product usage effects to inform policy decisions.

April 24, 2024 by gfn.tv

Slovenia has recently enacted a flavour ban that has further cemented its hardening attitude to vaping, but have consumers' voices been ignored throughout these considerations? Joining us today is Liza Katsiashvili of the World Vapers' Alliance to discuss the impact of FCTC and WHO directives on vaping regulations around Europe, and the consumer reaction to Slovenia's flavour ban.

April 24, 2024 by rcplondon.ac.uk

The RCP’s new report says more should be done to reduce the appeal and availability of e-cigarettes to children and young people. E-cigarettes and harm reduction: an evidence review 2024 makes several recommendations for regulation, including restricting the promotion of e-cigarettes on social media, making e-cigarettes less affordable for young people, and introducing standardised packaging to make vapes and e-cigarettes less appealing. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) survey data shows that the prevalence of vaping among children and young people aged 11–17 has more than doubled from 3.2% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2023.

April 23, 2024 by swlondoner.co.uk

Dr. Robson from King’s College London suggests using alternatives like banning colorful vape packaging to address rising young people vaping rates, in response to the government's plan to ban disposable vapes. Research shows standard packaging reduces teen interest, especially in sweet flavors. Dr. Robson highlights the appeal of sweet flavors to both youth and adults and mentions the complex nature of the issue. Menthol bans have had varying success, with Dr. Robson pointing out the existing workaround problems. ASH's Deputy CEO explains the appeal of disposable vapes goes beyond flavor, affecting market trends. London has lower youth vaping rates but still significant compared to the UK.

April 22, 2024 by colinmendelsohn.com.au

The UK's proposed generational smoking ban aims to raise the legal age for purchasing cigarettes, though concerns exist about effectiveness and potential fueling of black market sales. Australia must address the stagnant smoking rates among adults while considering innovative solutions like vaping as a safer alternative. Focus should shift towards helping older smokers quit, where vaping has shown promise, rather than solely targeting youth uptake. Prioritizing solutions for stubbornly addicted adult smokers is crucial for public health efforts. Enabling access to safer alternatives could lead to longer and healthier lives, outweighing the emphasis on generational smoking bans.

April 22, 2024 by theconversation.com

There are no quick fixes in addressing public health issues like smoking. Measures like increasing tobacco prices and implementing strict regulations have been effective in reducing smoking rates. Recent legislation in the UK aims to phase out the legal sale of tobacco products and prevent future generations from becoming addicted. Australia has also introduced new tobacco control reforms, with a goal of reducing smoking prevalence. The debate on further restrictions on vaping products is ongoing. These efforts highlight the importance of continued vigilance against the tobacco industry's influence to create a smoke-free future for upcoming generations.