Industry News – Bring Back Smoking Freedom

Light seen through the tunnel: 80% of tobacco tax to be cut by the Australian opposition, if implemented reducing cigarette prices by AUS $25 and legalising vapes

6 Sep 20267 Sep 2026

Australia along with New Zealand are the two countries in the world where cigarettes are most expensive than anywhere else in the world, with one packet of cigarettes costing the…

Healthcare News…

Ireland defies EU law and “Tobacco 21” settlement by insisiting on a generational tobacco purchase ban

24 Jul 20263 Aug 2026

From 2027, you will have to be at least 21 years old to purchase tobacco in the Republic of Ireland. This is the new legislation that the seperatist independent state…

Industry News

World-renowned painter and activist David Hockney dies aged 88

13 Jun 2026

The famous British painter and campaigner for smokers' rights, David Hockney, died on the morning of Friday, June 12, at the age of 88. Born in 1937 in Bradford, Yorkshire,…

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Smokers’ rights advocates will “fight on” after Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is granted Royal Assent

30 Apr 202615 May 2026

The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 has been granted Royal Assent after clearing all stages at both Houses of Parliament and has now become law. A law under which only…

Industry News

Price of tobacco rising by inflation rather than inflating the tax behind it, indicates Cyprus EU rotating presidency of the Council of Europe

23 Apr 202624 Apr 2026

Cyprus and its rotating presidency of the EU in the Council of Europe, lasting until June this year, is striking a balanced compromise to the proposed with pressure on behalf…

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Tobacco and Vapes Act, until recently being a Bill, cleared through parliament and awaiting Royal Assent

23 Apr 202624 May 2026

The incremental tobacco purchase ban and consequent gradual phasing out of all tobacco sales in the UK contained in the Tobacco and Vapes Act previously a Bill, has cleared its…

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War on smoking has gone far enough, politicians and anti-smoking campaigners should leave people alone, as FOREST chairman says 20th Scottish smoking ban anniversary is “nothing to celebrate”

17 Apr 202624 Apr 2026

The smoking ban as the first and foremost form of an anti-smoking public policy and legislation was introduced in the UK as the Scottish smoking ban of 2006 that only…

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Nigel Farage pledges to abolish the incremental tobacco purchase ban if he wins the next general election in 2029

29 Mar 20261 Jun 2026

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage who is a smoker himself has vowed to abolish the generational tobacco purchase ban if he and his party win the next general election in…

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The UK generational tobacco sales ban contradicts the Windsor Framework concerning Ireland according to 7 E.U. member states

4 Mar 2026

Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Romania have filed complaints in the form of formal comments or detailed opinion submissions to the UK stating that the provisions…

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“Tobacco 21” amendment to the Tobacco and Vapes bill voted down in the House of Lords

26 Feb 202626 Feb 2026

In a move that turns the attention of the state against the immediate interest of its own citizens, the House of Lords has rejected and voted down an amendment to…

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Cyprus rotating presidency of the Council of Europe rejects higher tobacco taxes

19 Feb 202627 Feb 2026

Cyprus, which holds the six-month presidency of the Council of Europe from January to June this year 2026, has been consulted on the Commission’s proposed tax increase on tobacco and…

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People quit smoking voluntarily despite anti-smoking restrictions, argues chairman of FOREST against the tobacco and vapes bill

29 Jan 2026

Smoking rates have been falling for decades, largely because people have been educated about the health risks. More recently, products such as vapes and nicotine pouches have provided reduced risk…

Industry News

Overpricing cigarettes “may persuade smokers to vote for Reform UK”, says FOREST chairman

29 Jan 2026

The most recent increase in cigarette overpricing which took effect in the new year 2026 has negatively influenced the inflation rate and brought it up to 3.4% in combination with…

Industry News

British Museum terminates sponsorship relations with Japan Tobacco International (JTI)

28 Jan 2026

The British Museum has ended its long-standing funding relationship with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the world's third-largest tobacco company, after the country's health ministry intervened with the ministry of culture,…

Healthcare News…

More people in the UK vape than smoke for the first time

13 Nov 202513 Nov 2025

Britain is often known, perhaps even notoriously, for its anti-normal ways of doing things, such as driving on the left side of the road and using an outstanding system of…

Industry News

Algerian man clings onto train in Austria after smoking on platform break

12 Aug 202512 Aug 2025

A 24-year-old Algerian man in Austria was caught between two carriages of the high-speed train he was on after it had stopped in Sankt Poelten and the young Algerian was…

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Australia follows Canada mandating individual cigarette stick health warnings

18 Jun 202518 Jun 2025

Since last summer for certain types of cigarettes and from this summer for the rest, Canada is requiring that health warnings are printed on each individual cigarette stick drawn out…

Industry News

Britney Spears smokes cigarette on aeroplane and is received by authorities after landing

26 May 2025

Pop star singer Britney Spears has lighted up and smoked a cigarette on her flight from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Thursday 22nd May and was received…

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Tobacco display ban enacted in Belgium, as supermarkets are banned from selling tobacco

3 Apr 202512 May 2025

The current Belgian government is attacking the tobacco trade and smokers with consecutive prohibitions applied to different practicalities emerging in stages over time inspired by the EU which is based…

Industry News

Britain may become the first country imposing a generational tobacco ban

9 Feb 202512 May 2025

As Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which opposes any such restrictions, leads opinion polls as a favourite to take power for the 2029 general election, the current British Labour government…

Industry News

European Parliament votes against outdoor smoking bans – as Council of Health Ministers act independently of parliament

3 Dec 20243 Dec 2024

The European Parliament voted against the ban on common forms of outdoor smoking such as that found in outdoor areas of bars, cafes and restaurants. However, the Council of Health…

Industry News

Tobacco and Vapes bill passes second reading for the second time

26 Nov 202428 Nov 2024

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will ban the sale of tobacco to those born after 2009, who will become adults after its pursued enactment, has passed its second reading…

Industry News

Imperial Brands launches new Paramount cigarette in the UK

21 Nov 202421 Nov 2024

Imperial Tobacco (presently renamed as Imperial Brands PLC) is launching its Paramount cigarette make in the United Kingdom following its success in Germany where ever since its introduction it has…

Healthcare News…

“Tobacco 21” legislation approved by Irish parliament and passed as law

14 Nov 202414 Nov 2024

Ireland has become the first EU country to set and raise the minimum age required to buy tobacco to the age of self-guardianship of 21 from the age of legal…

Industry News…

False statements made and allegations claimed by smoke-free legislation

14 Nov 202415 Dec 2024

For something to be an offence or crime, it must return a victim. A common characteristic of most or all offences or crimes is that the person committing it has…

Healthcare News…

‘Tobacco and Vapes’ bill introduced in parliament on Guy Fawkes Day 2024

5 Nov 20245 May 2025

The revised version of the previously defunct tobacco and vapes bill by the Labour government will be introduced in parliament today Tuesday the 5th of November ironically coinciding with Guy…

Healthcare News…

Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be passed from parliament before Christmas

31 Oct 20243 Nov 2024

After intense protest and intense negative reactions on behalf of the hospitality sector also consisting of venue and bar/pub and club and restaurant owners, the outdoor smoking bans intended by…

Industry News

Tobacco tax increase announced for 2024 annual budget

30 Oct 202431 Oct 2024

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves of the Labour government has made the 2024 budget announcement in the House of Commons. The Chancellor said that the present hike on the tax of…

Industry News

Elon Musk mentions “Thank you for Smoking” movie to answer an audience question on lobbying

27 Oct 20242 Nov 2024

Audience member: Hey Elon, my name is Jennifer Lucas, as you can tell I do not have a Pennsylvania accent but I do live here, I'm voting legally, I promise.…

Industry News

British tourist in Thailand has water thrown over him to extinguish his cigarette

26 Oct 202421 Apr 2025

A British tourist in Thailand had water thrown over him by kitchen stand staff to extinguish his cigarette after ignoring a no-smoking sign and the warnings that were made to…

Industry News

Labour government planning outdoor smoking bans with their version of the “Tobacco and Vapes Bill”

31 Aug 202421 Sep 2024

The rumoured drafting of an "enhanced" anti-smoking law with a ban on the purchase of tobacco for those becoming adults by the British government has been leaked to the British…

Healthcare News…

Minimum age to buy tobacco becomes 21 in Indonesia where children were allowed to smoke!

13 Aug 202420 Oct 2024

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia signed new legislation setting the minimum age for buying tobacco to 21 years from 18 years as was set in 2020, a year before which the…

Industry News

Rishi Sunak’s progressive smoking ban mentioned in the King’s Speech under the Labour government

17 Jul 202418 Jul 2024

The generational smoking ban inspired and proposed by the previous prime minister Rishi Sunak has been mentioned in the King's Speech written by the present Labour prime minister Sir Kier…

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ASH, Cancer Research UK and RCP urge new Labour government to rewrite the defunct “Tobacco and Vapes Bill”

12 Jul 202420 Aug 2024

Britain's anti-smoking groups and medical associations have sent a letter to England's newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his health secretary Wes Streeting, seeking to raise the issue…

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Gradual smoking ban included in Labour manifesto

21 Jun 202422 Jun 2024

The Labour Party, most likely to win the elections held on the 4th of July, is sticking to its programme in its well-known view that it should ban the purchase…

Industry News

Cigarettes in Australia/New Zealand cost as much as in the war-torn Gaza strip!

21 Jun 202425 Sep 2024

The price for a packet of cigarettes has reached $25 USD in the war-torn Gaza Strip, which raises the question while becoming news if that cost is the highest it…

Industry News

President Erdogan announces plan for generational tobacco ban in Turkey

14 Jun 202414 Jun 2024

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking from Istanbul announced that his country's government is planning for a generational smoking ban similar to the one threatened in Britain by prime minister…

Industry News

China Tobacco leadership persecuted by authorities – death sentence to a former deputy

9 Jun 2024

The People's Mediation Court of Dalian in the Chinese region of Liaoning has sentenced the former vice president of the state-owned cannon-industrial monopoly China Tobacco to death on charges of…

Healthcare News…

Rishi Sunak’s gradual smoking ban shelved for the elections

24 May 202430 May 2024

The Prime Minister of Britain Rishi Sunak announced that the general elections at the end of the five-year term will be held on Thursday, the 4th of July, 2024, as a…