FLER at APE

Russia’s State Duma will soon consider a proposal to impose a complete ban on the sale of vapes. The move follows President Vladimir Putin’s endorsement of a nationwide prohibition. Lawmaker Aleksey Volotskov said vape use has surged by 52% since early 2025, with illegal products now dominating 80% of the market.

PMI Malaysia says Japan and New Zealand’s regulated smoke-free alternatives have hastened smoking declines, whereas Thailand’s post-2014 ban drives smokers to cigarettes or the black market—evidence, PMI argues, that pairing regulated alternatives with traditional controls could improve public health faster.

Denver voters have upheld the city’s ban on flavored nicotine products—including fruity vapes and menthol cigarettes—with 72% in favor during the Nov. 4 election. The “Yes on 310” campaign, backed by $5 million from Michael Bloomberg, celebrated the result as a major victory for youth health. Opponents, mostly local vape shop owners, warned of economic harm and called the spending imbalance unfair.

Since Kazakhstan banned e-cigarette sales in June 2024, transactions have gone underground, shifting to Telegram and some e-commerce platforms and making enforcement harder; related research indicates the ban has not significantly reduced demand.

A Northerner survey finds 84% of Britons support regulating nicotine pouches and 82% back a licensing scheme for vape sales, aligning with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to improve consumer safety and youth protection.

R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. has moved to dismiss a class-action lawsuit alleging false “carbon neutral” claims for its Vuse e-cigarettes, arguing its statements were based on independent certifications from Verra and Vertis, not misleading consumers.