Roundup of June 2025 state actions on tobacco & vaping: Tax hikes in Delaware & Indiana, flavor ban considered in CA, new laws in CT, OR & RI.
Read moreThe United Kingdom has taken a decisive and widely publicized step to address the “nasty” issue of single-use e-cigarettes. As of June 1, 2025, a nationwide ban on the sale and supply of disposable vapes is officially in force. The government’s stated aims are clear: to tackle the “alarming rise in youth vaping” and to curb the significant environmental damage caused by millions of these devices being discarded weekly. When the ban was announced in October 2024, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh described disposables as “extremely wasteful” and a “blight on our towns and cities.” But as the ban takes effect, a critical question emerges: will it actually work? Early indications from retailers, consumers, and public health experts suggest the reality is complex, with a market already adapting in ways that may undermine the ban’s core objectives.
Read moreA 2025 “Nanny State Index” report offers a comparative look at how European countries regulate lifestyle choices, including a significant focus on tobacco and “safer nicotine” products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The index suggests that while many nations are tightening controls, approaches vary widely, with some imposing outright bans and others focusing on high taxation and advertising restrictions. Turkey, Lithuania, Finland, Hungary, and the United Kingdom emerge as some of the jurisdictions with the most stringent measures targeting traditional smoking and alternative nicotine delivery systems.
Read moreBorn into a world shaped by smartphones and social media, Gen Z navigates life with an expectation of speed, convenience, and personal autonomy. This digital-native mindset helps explain the parallel rise of two seemingly unrelated trends that have captured their attention: disposable vapes and cryptocurrency. While one involves a sensory experience and the other a financial one, both tap into core generational values of independence, community, and a desire to engage with modern, digitally-driven systems. Understanding the underlying themes connecting these two phenomena offers a clear window into the motivations and priorities of today’s young adults.
Read moreAustralia’s progressively harsh restrictions on vaping products, including a near-total ban on sales outside pharmacies, have failed to curb demand and may be counterproductive to public health, a new expert review published in the Journal of Smoking Cessation concludes. The report, titled ‘A short history of e-cigarette policy in Australia,’ traces how increasingly strict measures have driven vaping underground rather than reducing its use, particularly among young people, while the nation’s smoking rate remains stubbornly high at around 11%.
Read moreThe ongoing debate surrounding vaping and e-cigarettes in the United States is frequently clouded by fear-based messaging, and critics argue that the American Medical Association (AMA), a leading voice in healthcare, is a significant contributor to this problem. A recent AMA publication, an interview with Dr. Bilal Shahid Bangash titled “What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About E-Cigarettes,” authored by Sara Berg and published on May 30th, has reignited concerns that the organization is prioritizing a misleading narrative over evidence-based tobacco harm reduction. While the AMA’s stated intention may be to inform the public, its approach often seems to obscure the potential of e-cigarettes as a vital tool for adult smokers aiming to quit deadly combustible cigarettes.
Read moreA new legislative trend is sweeping across the United States, fundamentally reshaping the landscape for vaping products. So-called Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) registry bills are gaining traction in numerous states, presented as a means to protect consumers from unregulated products and curb youth vaping. These laws typically restrict legal vape sales to only those products that have either received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through its rigorous PMTA pathway or are currently undergoing that intensive review process. Virginia recently confirmed its version of such a law, albeit with a one-year enforcement delay, while similar legislation in Iowa awaits the governor’s decision. However, these bills are far from universally praised. Tobacco harm reduction advocates and smaller, independent vape businesses decry them as overly restrictive, arguing they harmfully limit options for adult smokers seeking safer alternatives to cigarettes and effectively hand market dominance to large tobacco companies whose few FDA-authorized vaping products often fit the narrow criteria.
Read moreThe flow of e-cigarettes from China into the United States, the world’s largest vaping market, has dramatically slowed, with official import data showing a near halt in May 2025. This sharp decline is attributed to a combination of new U.S. tariffs imposed under the Trump administration and intensified crackdowns on unlicensed and illegal e-cigarette products. While this aims to curb the influx of unauthorized items, particularly popular disposable flavored vapes, industry insiders anticipate price hikes for consumers and a resilient, adaptable black market that will continue to find ways to supply demand.
Read moreEvery year on May 31st, the global community unites for World No Tobacco Day. It’s more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a powerful, worldwide call to action, a moment to spotlight the profound and often devastating effects of tobacco use and to galvanize efforts encouraging people everywhere to quit for good. Whether you’re currently a smoker contemplating change, someone who has successfully quit, or an individual simply concerned about the health of your loved ones and community, this day carries a message of hope and a reminder of the urgent need for action.
Read moreThe United Kingdom is set to implement a significant change in its vaping regulations with a ban on the sale and supply of single-use disposable vapes. This new law, effective from June 1st, will apply across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, impacting both physical shops and online retailers. The ban encompasses all disposable vapes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or are nicotine-free. As this date approaches, many consumers and retailers have questions about the reasons behind this decision and its potential impact.
Read more