BAT Executives Urge UK to Crack Down on Illegal e-Cigarettes

Sep.20.2024
BAT Executives Urge UK to Crack Down on Illegal e-Cigarettes
British American Tobacco (BAT) executives urge UK government to focus on tackling illegal e-cigarette sales instead of unnecessary tobacco policies.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg, executives from British American Tobacco (BAT) have stated that the UK government should focus on combating the illicit trade of e-cigarettes rather than introducing additional regulations on traditional cigarettes.


The previous Conservative government in the UK announced plans to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 14 in order to create a smoke-free generation.


British American Tobacco's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Kingsley Wheaton, cited an analysis from the company indicating that the smoking rate among young people will drop to below 5% when the UK's policy to ban the purchase of cigarettes by young people takes effect.


Whitton emphasized that the government should allocate more resources to crack down on the illegal e-cigarette market, rather than further tightening existing policies on traditional cigarettes. The company will push for licenses to be issued to e-cigarette retailers. BAT said that if enforced properly, issuing licenses will help reduce the number of minors accessing e-cigarettes.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

American Snuff Expands Manufacturing Hiring as Reynolds American Builds Future-Ready Operations
American Snuff Expands Manufacturing Hiring as Reynolds American Builds Future-Ready Operations
Reynolds American said American Snuff Company will add more than 50 manufacturing roles at its Clarksville, Tennessee facility as part of its wider U.S. manufacturing investment plan. The company said the hiring is one of the latest developments under its plan to invest more than USD 3.2 billion across U.S. operations by 2030.
Mar.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Imperial Brands Launches Red, Gold and Silver iD Heated Tobacco Sticks in Europe
Imperial Brands Launches Red, Gold and Silver iD Heated Tobacco Sticks in Europe
Imperial Brands PLC said on February 18, 2026 that it has launched its new Red, Gold and Silver iD heated tobacco sticks in Greece and Poland, with a broader rollout across Europe planned for 2026.
Feb.18
HB337 Moves Forward: Cigarette and Nicotine Taxes Set to Rise in Utah
HB337 Moves Forward: Cigarette and Nicotine Taxes Set to Rise in Utah
Utah lawmakers are advancing HB337, a bill that would raise the state cigarette tax by $2 per pack and restructure taxes on other nicotine products. The proposal replaces weight-based taxes with percentage-based rates and removes reduced rates for certain modified risk products. Supporters say it will curb youth tobacco use, while opponents warn of cross-border shopping and harm to consumers seeking alternatives.
Feb.17
Special Report|Disposable Heated Tobacco? A China Tobacco Patent Reimagines the Heated-Tobacco Stick as a Self-Contained Product
Special Report|Disposable Heated Tobacco? A China Tobacco Patent Reimagines the Heated-Tobacco Stick as a Self-Contained Product
A newly published China Tobacco patent proposes a holder-free heat-not-burn stick that integrates the filter, tobacco substrate, heating element, controller and power source into one cigarette-shaped product. It stands out not just for eliminating the external heating device, but for explicitly highlighting two less common goals in heated tobacco: restoring cigarette-like social sharing and enabling post-use recovery through a recoverable component group.
Innovation
Mar.18
Nicotine Becomes Second-Largest Revenue Source for Couche-Tard in Fiscal 2025
Nicotine Becomes Second-Largest Revenue Source for Couche-Tard in Fiscal 2025
Alimentation Couche-Tard reported that nicotine products accounted for 9% of total revenue in fiscal 2025, making it the company’s second-largest revenue source after fuel, according to its latest Business Strategy Update.
Market
Feb.19
Philippine DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
Philippine DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
A Philippine Department of Trade and Industry official told a Senate hearing on vaping regulations that flavored vape products marketed with descriptors attractive to minors are “100 percent smuggled” and did not pass the agency’s licensing process.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai