NEWS
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Geek Bar is calling for Trading Standards services across the UK to do ‘ everything possible ’ to deal with rogue traders selling non-compliant and counterfeit disposable vape products . Chief Executive Allen Young said : “ These products are finding their way into the UK through customs and being sold in retail outlets across the country . Enough is enough . There needs to be more collaboration and enforcement involving all parties including Trading Standards , the vaping industry , trade associations representing retailers and the MHRA .”
“ WORRYING UPWARD TREND ”
More than ten percent of Irish cancer patients continue to smoke even after diagnosis , according to new research . Scientists studied cancer patients admitted to public hospitals between 2014 and 2018 for the research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health . The paper concluded : “ Smoking rates in cancer patients show a worrying upward trend . Given the high smoking rates among cancer patients , it is critical that healthcare professionals advocate smoking cessation among all patients .”
ENGLAND MAY BAN UNDER 25s FROM BUYING CIGARETTES
Under 25s could be banned from buying cigarettes under radical new plans to tackle England ’ s smoking rate . Javid Khan , the country ’ s new anti-smoking tzar , says the move may be necessary to achieve the government ’ s ‘ Smokefree 2030 ’ ambitions . He is heading an independent review into the government ’ s plans to tackle smoking and has warned the target will not be met if ‘ nothing different ’ is done . Khan , a former chief executive of the children ’ s charity Barnardo ’ s , said he was being ‘ bold and brave ’ with his review .
UP IN SMOKE
The 34 million smokers in the US cost the economy more than $ 300bn a year , primarily from lost productivity and medical care . Other figures revealed in a new study from the financial planning website WalletHub included that over an average US smoker ’ s lifetime :
· Average out-of-pocket costs will be $ 133,911
· Smokers can expect to run up $ 177,000 in healthcare and
· They will incur an average of $ 545,166 in income loss .
WORLD VAPING POPULATION REACHES 82 MILLION
There are now 82 million vapers in the world as new research reveals that numbers have leapt by 20 percent in a year . The data was compiled by the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction ( GSTHR ) and showed that numbers had increased from 68 million in 2020 to 82 million a year later . Gerry Stimson , an emeritus professor at Imperial College London , said : “ Consumers find nicotine vaping products attractive and are switching to them in increasing numbers worldwide .”
DON ’ T DO IT
Scottish ministers are being urged to rethink plans to ban the promotion of vape products over concerns about long-term health effects . Doug Mutter , a director at Edinburgh-headquartered vape retailer and manufacturer VPZ , described the plans as an ‘ own goal .’ He said : “ Any controls placed on vaping promotion are in denial of the facts , will represent a massive own goal for the NHS in Scotland and means that the country can kiss goodbye to its 2034 smokefree ambitions .” The Scottish Grocers ’ Federation and the UKVIA have also called on ministers to scrap the plans .
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