Nicotine Whispers – Weeks 48 & 49
Alchem NicSelect™ Introduces Nicotine Whispers
Alchem NicSelect™ is happy to launch Nicotine Whispers – a biweekly news digest on global developments in nicotine and tobacco, thoughtfully compiled in collaboration with PharmaCompass.
Stay informed on the latest regulations, market trends, and insights shaping the NGND industry.
Weeks 48 and 49 Highlights:
South Korea
26 November 2024 – The Korea Bizwire
South Korea Expands E-Cigarette-Only Smoking Lounges
South Korea is expanding e-cigarette-only smoking lounges, including facilities at Incheon International Airport, to cater to rising e-cigarette use. These redesigned spaces eliminate ashtrays and odors, serving 4,000 users daily with high satisfaction rates. The trend reflects shifting attitudes as e-cigarette usage grows nationwide.
United Kingdom
27 November 2024 – House of Commons Library
Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-25
The UK has introduced the Tobacco and Vaping Bill to protect minors and improve public health. Measures include £200 fines for selling vapes to under-18s, stricter advertising rules, and a potential expansion of smoking bans to outdoor areas. Single-use vapes will be banned from June 1, 2025, with a sell-through deadline of May 31, 2025.
Sweden
28 November 2024 – Smoke Free Sweden
Sweden’s Smoke-Free Model: A Call to Action for the EU
Global health experts urge the EU to adopt Sweden’s evidence-based harm reduction strategies, credited with achieving a world-leading 4.5% smoking rate. They advocate reforms in product availability, risk communication, and taxation to replicate Sweden’s success across Europe.
EU
28 November 2024 – euronews
EU Parliament Rejects Smoking Ban Resolution
The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly (378 against, 152 in favor) to reject a resolution on smoke-free environments after amendments by right-wing groups excluded novel tobacco products. Critics, including S&D negotiator Alessandra Moretti, condemned the move as detrimental to public health. The proposed resolution aimed to expand smoking bans and include regulations on vapes and heated tobacco products.
US
02 December 2024 – Yahoo! News
E-Cigarette Makers Push Supreme Court for Review of Flavored Vape Restrictions
E-cigarette makers urged the Supreme Court to re-evaluate FDA restrictions on flavored vapes, hoping for favorable policies under a new administration. The FDA has only approved tobacco and menthol flavors, citing insufficient evidence that other flavors aid smoking cessation without appealing to youth. The industry argues the FDA’s process was unclear and unfair, with mixed rulings from federal courts.
Italy
04 December 2024 – CoEHAR
E-cigarette Most Effective Quitting Tool
A CoEHAR umbrella review confirms e-cigarettes are the most effective smoking cessation tool, surpassing other methods. Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, it analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 24 randomized controlled trials. This study is among the most comprehensive on the topic to date.