Author: Nick Schager

The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a draft for a new anti-tobacco law that will significantly tighten restrictions on tobacco and e-cigarette consumption in Spain. Among the most notable changes is the prohibition of smoking and vaping on the outdoor terraces of hospitality venues, at public swimming pools, bus stops, and on the grounds of high schools and university campuses. Commercial vehicles will also be considered smoke-free workplaces under the new rules. The legislation, which now heads to parliament for further debate and approval, legally equates the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) with conventional tobacco, subjecting them to the…

A significant and complex new vape ban, Senate Bill 2024, has taken effect in Texas as of Monday, September 1st. The law, which largely flew under the radar amid more publicized legislative battles over hemp, introduces sweeping restrictions on the sale, marketing, and design of e-cigarette products, including a complete ban on vapes containing THC and other specific substances. Penned by State Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in June, SB 2024 creates a new regulatory landscape for the state's thousands of vape and smoke shops. It's crucial to note that while the law…

Travelers flying to or even transiting through Singapore must be aware of a dramatic escalation in the country's anti-vaping laws, with severe new penalties taking effect on September 1, 2025. While vaping has been banned since 2018, the government is now treating the issue as a drug enforcement priority, prompted by a surge in vapes laced with the anesthetic etomidate, locally known as "K-pods." Under the new rules, etomidate has been reclassified as a Class C drug, placing vapes containing it on par with substances like cocaine. Importers of these "K-pods" risk 3–20 years in prison plus 5–15 cane strokes,…

Despite a comprehensive ban on the commercialization, importation, and advertising of e-cigarettes in place since 2011, Argentina is facing an alarming increase in vape use among adolescents. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP) are warning that these devices pose a serious public health risk and threaten to "re-normalize" smoking habits among youth. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 7.1% of Argentine students aged 13-15 use e-cigarettes. In the city of Buenos Aires, a 2023 survey found this figure to be 8%. Furthermore, it's estimated that one in four 12- and 13-year-olds has tried…

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has intensified its crackdown on distributors of unregulated vapes, a move that significantly challenges the multi-billion dollar industry and could benefit major tobacco companies. In a key action, the USPS has barred New York-based distributor Demand Vape from using its mailing services. This decision came after the New York City Law Department provided evidence that the company was shipping vapes that lacked required U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization and violated local flavor bans. While Demand Vape contests the revocation, the action highlights the increasing pressure on an industry operating in what some call…

Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok has called on the Malaysian Health Ministry to table amendments to the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2023 (Act 852) to enforce a complete ban on vapes and electronic cigarettes this year. Citing growing public health concerns, Kok urged the government to emulate countries like Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, and Argentina, which have implemented outright prohibitions. Kok dismissed the idea that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking as a "dangerous misconception," highlighting its links to lung disease, respiratory damage, and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. She pointed to alarming…

The New Zealand government is revoking a 2023 regulation that required all vaping devices to have removable batteries. The change, effective September 1st, was made to resolve a court challenge brought by Mason Corporation Limited, according to Associate Health Minister Casey Costello. She stated this was the "best way to resolve the case." Costello added that the revocation is not expected to negatively impact smoking or vaping rates, noting that the government has already successfully banned disposable vapes, which were the products most popular with young people. The removable battery rule was originally introduced by the previous Labour government.

E-cigarettes are more effective for smoking cessation than standard nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) like gum and lozenges, according to a randomized controlled trial from the University of Sydney. The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlight the potential of vaping as a key substitution tool, particularly for disadvantaged populations who are disproportionately affected by tobacco-related harms. The trial involved 1,045 daily smokers from disadvantaged backgrounds who were willing to attempt quitting. Participants were randomly assigned to either a vaping group, which received an eight-week supply of nicotine e-liquid, or an NRT group, which received nicotine gum or lozenges for…

New Zealand has enacted significant new vaping regulations this month, including a nationwide ban on the manufacturing, sale, supply, and distribution of disposable vapes. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced that these changes, part of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill passed last December, are now in effect. The new rules also introduce strict retail visibility restrictions for all vaping products. Specialist vape stores must alter their appearance, while general retailers like dairies, supermarkets, and petrol stations are now required to keep all vaping products completely out of public sight. Online stores are prohibited from displaying images of…

The Spanish government is moving forward with a new anti-tobacco reform that will significantly expand its list of smoke-free public places, with the new rules applying equally to both traditional cigarettes and vapes. Health Minister Mónica García confirmed that the ban will extend to numerous outdoor areas to protect public health. The expanded list of prohibited locations will include bar and restaurant terraces, university campuses, school courtyards, public swimming pools, sports facilities, bus stops, outdoor parties, and company cars. García stated that by equating e-cigarettes with regular cigarettes, authorities are closing a legal loophole that tobacco companies have used to…