HEADLINE

Recent reports from Germany and Switzerland show growing concern over vape and tobacco vending machines near schools or in public settings, with parents, teachers and residents questioning youth access, age-verification controls and the sale of vapes alongside snacks and drinks.

FIFA’s 2026 World Cup stadium rules prohibit smoking, vaping and the use of any tobacco products or electronic smoking devices inside stadiums, including inner and outer perimeters, while electronic smoking devices, tobacco products, lighters and matches are listed as prohibited items, bringing nicotine-product management, venue compliance and cross-border legal differences into focus at a major global sporting event.

BAT’s nicotine pouch brand VELO has introduced the Tomorrowland Limited Edition 2026. Public retail-channel information shows the product has appeared across multiple European online platforms, while Haypp UK has listed related SKUs with a “Coming soon” status. The packaging carries the wording “Official Tomorrowland Partner,” indicating that the collection is part of VELO’s official collaboration with the electronic music festival brand.

According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, women are a key growth driver in the UK nicotine pouch market. Overall sales for Haypp and Northerner rose 60% year‑on‑year in 2025, but purchases by women surged 202%, versus 25% for men. Women’s share of consumers jumped from 22% to 40%. The report attributes this to discretion, perceived health benefits, and more gender‑neutral product positioning, suggesting future growth will come from a broader range of adult nicotine users.

According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, nicotine pouches are increasingly replacing both cigarettes and vaping. The UK market grew sharply, with Haypp and Northerner reporting a 60% year‑on‑year sales increase in 2025. Notably, 40% of users adopted pouches to quit vaping, nearly matching the 43% who used them to stop smoking. This indicates pouches are expanding beyond traditional smoking cessation and gaining traction among adults seeking non‑inhalable nicotine alternatives.

Philip Morris International (PMI) and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli have launched “Believe. Further,” a multi-year communications platform targeting cultural, institutional and business audiences in Europe, as PMI says smoke-free products accounted for 43% of its net revenues as of the first quarter of 2026.

Norwich City Council is set to debate a proposed vape deposit scheme that would require consumers to pay an extra refundable £5 per device at purchase, with the money returned when the device is handed back, as recent recycling-facility fires, including a major Widnes blaze reportedly very likely caused by a vape, draw greater attention to the risks of improperly discarded lithium-battery devices.