This week at #CPC2025 we co-hosted, with @the_tpa, a fringe event, Politics & Prohibition: Freedom Under Fire. Chaired by @DuncanBarkes, the meeting featured @jackmrankin, the TPA's @marchong_joanna, and Forest director @simonclark_. WATCH: https://t.co/0GV1UkrMEE

"This type of criminality is often linked to organised crime groups responsible for bringing fear, violence and harm to our local communities." Despite this the government is pressing ahead with a generational sales ban that will increase illicit trade. https://t.co/qch8GLD9DE

Labour’s plan to ensure the next generation can never legally buy cigarettes was branded a low-priority issue by respondents compared to more pressing issues like the economy and cost of living.

Organised crime behind illegal cigarette sales, says councillor

Authorities raid secret cigarette factory which was equippened with sound insulation to hide production of 1.5m cigarettes a day.

Was great to speak on this panel at Tory conference, alongside @jackmrankin, @simonclark_ and @DuncanBarkes. Tobacco duty is a prime example of what bad taxes become - a cash cow for the Treasury.

https://t.co/Yj5OyaWX1Y

“The right relationship between the state and the individual is so important.” Many thanks to @jackmrankin for speaking up for individual liberty at #CPC25. Full video of our fringe meeting in the comments below.

A survey of islanders in three Crown dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man) found that people aged 18 to 39 were more likely to say that smoking and vaping was acceptable behaviour.

UK and Ireland MD of British American Tobacco says vaping will help the UK become smoke-free by 2030.

Campaigners from smokers’ rights group Forest condemned the 50c increase on the excise duty on a packet of 20 cigarettes, saying it will “drive more smokers into the arms of criminal gangs and other illicit traders”.

Call for evidence on proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill

‘I gave up [smoking] 40 years ago. I’m more than happy with the tax to increase on both cigarettes and vapes,’ said Joseph Beard, 69. Quelle surprise!!

Budget 2026: The 50c increase in the price of cigarettes is now “just vindictive”, the Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy has said. Simon Clark, director of Forest, said, “This latest tax hike will drive even more smokers to the black market.”

Smokers' group Forest noted that the latest tax hike will push the cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes of the most popular brands to almost €19 for the first time, and claimed that the increase would "drive even more smokers to the black market".

Budget 2026: Campaigners say the 50c increase on the excise duty on a packet of 20 cigarettes, and a pro-rata increase on other tobacco products, is "unfair" on law-abiding consumers and retailers in Ireland.

The Government has announced the dates for the next stage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, but a survey conducted by Forest reveals people don’t think the legislation is important https://t.co/jZb6U1nnf4 @Forest_Smoking #vape #vapingnews #tobaccoandvapesbill

At least it's a tad witty. Beyond that, it comes from a Tory party (c/o Sunak) whose daft, illiberal generational smoking ban is now being championed by Labour, so there won't be any fag packets in the future to write any policies on.

Hold the front page! Number of arrests revealed after passengers caught smoking on Birmingham Airport planes: TWO in THREE years. Birmingham Airport currently handles 13 MILLION passengers a year.

While rivals have set ambitious targets for 'smoke-free' products, Japan Tobacco has focused more on conventional combustible tobacco.