Improper government policies related to tobacco can lead to increased consumption among the poor, erosion of tax revenues, and, worryingly, a surge in criminal activity that can be difficult to control. Recent articles have exposed inherent conflicts regarding smoking in South Africa. We view the signals there as being explosive, seriously underplayed in the media, […]

Before 2020, I knew very little about tobacco control. My knowledge did not go beyond what most people know – that cigarettes are bad for your health and could kill you. Subsequently, tobacco harm reduction was a foreign concept to me, although it made logical sense. I volunteered in Lesotho with the Peace Corps; the […]

A Keynote Speech from the 2021 global tobacco and nicotine forum Download PDF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpGkl3d3BWg We are amid a revolution in nicotine technology. Thanks to massive investments in research and development, patents are being filed at a dizzying pace and the ramifications of this IP are being felt in the real world. Already, 100 million people […]

中国或将引领烟草业的转型 When Chinese e-cigarette maker RELX Technology went public this January, its price quickly soared. Shares increased 145.92% on opening day, pushing the company’s value to 45.8 billion dollars. Then, in March, prices plunged more than 40% following the announcement of potential new regulations on China’s e-cigarette industry. Losses aside, the regulations can be understood […]

On May 20th of last year, the EU ban on the manufacture and sale of menthol cigarettes went into effect for the Union’s 27 member countries. This regulatory move was predicated on the view that such a ban would discourage people from starting smoking or encourage existing smokers to quit—thus contributing to general public health. […]