The Spanish government is preparing to expand its list of public places where smoking traditional cigarettes and using vapes (e-cigarettes) will be prohibited, El Pais reports. This move aims to ensure healthier and more comfortable spaces for the entire population, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
Read moreUruguay has reinstated a comprehensive ban on the importation and sale of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes (vapes), revoking a 2021 decree that had previously allowed their commercialization. The announcement was made by Laura Llambí, director of Uruguay’s National Tobacco Control Program.
Read moreNorth Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and vape products from 18 to 21, aiming to align state law with existing federal regulations. A legislative meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the proposal, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston) and Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake).
Read moreFrance to ban smoking on beaches, in parks & near schools from July 1 with €135 fine; cafe terraces & vapes currently exempt.
Read moreThe State of Alabama has agreed to allow convenience stores to sell a significantly wider range of vaping products than initially stipulated under a strict new law (HB8) that took effect this month. This development follows a federal lawsuit filed by the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama (PCMA) challenging the legislation.
Read moreThe Principality of Monaco has taken a significant step in its public health strategy by enacting a comprehensive new anti-tobacco law. Unanimously passed by the National Council on May 15, 2025, Bill No. 1104 introduces sweeping reforms aimed at safeguarding public health, with a strong focus on protecting youth from nicotine addiction and addressing the environmental impact of certain tobacco-related products.
Read moreNew Alabama law (HB8) bans vape/tobacco vending machine sales & mandates retailer licensing to combat youth access and high vaping rates.
Read moreIllinois’ new budget increases the effective tax rate on all tobacco products, including vapes and e-cigarettes, to 45% to boost state revenue.
Read moreFrance is set to implement a significant expansion of its smoking ban, prohibiting smoking in most outdoor public places starting July 1, 2025. The new law aims to protect the public, particularly children, from secondhand smoke and further denormalize tobacco use.
Read moreBrazil’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, has firmly positioned himself against the legalization of e-cigarettes and similar vaping devices. Speaking at a World No Tobacco Day campaign launch in Brasília on May 28th, Padilha emphasized his support for maintaining the National Health Surveillance Agency’s (Anvisa) existing ban (RDC 46/2009, reinforced by RDC 855/2024) on the commercialization, importation, and advertising of these products.
Padilha stated he has not been approached by the industry or other government sectors to discuss the matter but asserted, “Brazil has a level of use of these devices that is 5 to 7 times lower than in other countries that have legalized their commercialization. This shows the correctness of Anvisa’s decision.”
Roberto Gil, Director-General of the National Cancer Institute (Inca), supported the ministry’s stance, noting that while there was an increase in overall smoking last year, it was driven by conventional cigarettes. “The challenge today is to protect new generations from electronic cigarettes, the industry’s strategy to create new dependents,” Gil highlighted.
The Ministry of Health also reported a significant increase in cognitive-behavioral therapies provided by the public health system (SUS) between 2022 and 2024, with attendances jumping 96.4% from 42,300 to 83,000. Collective health activities and home visits also saw substantial rises.
Coinciding with these statements, an Inca study titled “The Bill the Tobacco Industry Doesn’t Count” was released. It revealed that for every R$1 of profit made by the tobacco industry, the federal government spends R$5 on treating smoking-related diseases. In 2019, each R$0.156 million in profit from legal cigarette sales equated to one death from related illnesses. The study concluded that for every R$1 of tobacco industry profit, Brazil incurs R$2.3 in direct treatment costs and R$5.1 in total (direct and indirect) costs. Inca epidemiologist André Szklo stressed the importance of measuring these societal costs to seek accountability and reimbursement from the industry, which he noted uses profits to encourage youth smoking initiation.