Smoking and vaping: HABIT Expert Group on nicotine product evidence minutes – January 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Dr Serena Di Genova, Scottish Government
• Prof Linda Bauld, Scottish Government
• Fiona Dill, Scottish Government
• Dr Manu Savani, Brunel University of London
• Dr Zoe Swithenbank, Lancaster University
• Prof Riccardo Marioni, University of Edinburgh
• Anne Marie MacKintosh, University of Stirling
• Dr Sreekanth Thekkumkara, University of Dundee
• Dr Ivan Markovic, Durham University
• Prof Simon Cox, University of Edinburgh
• Prof Ahsan Akram, University of Edinburgh
• Prof Alberto Fiore, Abertay University
• Prof Rachel Isba, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust 
• Dr Raouf Alebshehy, University of Bath
• Dr Hala Alaouie, University of Bath
• Dr Ivan Gee, Liverpool John Moores University
• Dr Effie Marathia, University of Stirling
• Prof Christopher Lucas, University of Edinburgh
• Prof Grant McIntyre, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Robert Tempelaar, ASH Scotland
• Dr Purva Abhyankar, University of Edinburgh 
• Prof Sean Semple, University of Stirling
• Prof Francesco Moscone, Brunel University of London
• Dr Marisa De Andrade, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Emma Brown, Lancaster University
• Prof Subhash Pokhrel, Brunel University of London
• Dr Garth Reid, Public Health Scotland
• Prof Milica Vasiljevic, Durham University
• Dr Jasmine Khouja, University of Bath
• Dr Duncan Gillespie, The University of Sheffield 
• Dr Valerio Restocchi, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Marissa Smith, University of Glasgow
• Dr Neil Gibson, British Paediatric Respiratory Society 
• Dr Tessa Langley, University of Nottingham
• Prof Niamh Shortt, University of Edinburgh 
• Dr Ross Langley, NHS GG&C
• Ruth Dale, Hidden Voices Heard
• Dr Allison Ford, University of Stirling

Apologies

• Dr Kenneth Macleod, NHS Lothian 
• Dr Scott Hogg, NHS Scotland/ ASH Scotland 
• Prof Andrew Russell, Durham University  
• Prof Jacob George, University of Dundee 
• Prof Michael Ussher, University of Stirling 
• Dr Fiona Dobbie, University of Edinburgh 
• Prof Ivor Chestnutt, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 

Items and actions

Welcome and opening remarks

Prof Linda Bauld opened the meeting by welcoming all members, outlining the agenda and inviting the members to add a short introduction to the chat.

Purpose and objectives of the Expert Network and Group

Linda outlined the purpose of the HABIT Expert Group: to provide independent, evidence-based advice to support policy development, strategic planning and analytical decision-making in relation to tobacco, vapes and other nicotine products. She emphasised that the group offers increased visibility for academics not only within the Scottish Government (SG) but across its wider network, including the UK Government and other devolved administrations. 

Linda reiterated that the group is advisory rather than funding‑focused, and that the Scottish Government is not providing research funding.

She summarised the Terms of Reference (ToR), including expectations around evidence integrity, the declaration of interests in line with WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requirements, and confidentiality. As no comments were raised, this was taken as approval of the ToR.

Policy background and summary of planned activities

Fiona Dill (Tobacco Control team leader) presented an overview of the current Scottish policy context, including three key frameworks:

• Population Health Framework (2025) – setting out the Scottish Government and COSLA’s long-term collective approach to improving Scotland’s health and reducing inequalities, with prevention at its core
• Tobacco and Vaping Framework (2023, with a 2025 update on actions) – outlining the Scottish Government’s overarching vision of achieving a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034, structured around three pillars: People (information, engagement, cessation), Product (appeal, price), Place (smoke-free and vape-free places, register)
• Tobacco and Vapes Bill (2024–2026) – currently at report stage within the House of Lords, covering the sale and distribution of products, revenue and customs, packaging and flavours, advertising and sponsorship, and smoke‑, vape- and heated tobacco-free spaces

Prof Sean Semple (University of Stirling) asked for more information regarding section 7 of the bill and smoke-free spaces. Fiona noted that ASH Scotland has been undertaking work on the rollout of smoke-free hospital grounds and potential extensions to existing smoke-free policies. She explained that she could not provide further details at this stage, and that any future changes would be subject to public consultation. Linda emphasised that such consultations are a key stage for academics to contribute evidence.

Dr Purva Abhyankar (University of Edinburgh) asked for further clarification on enforcement and what this would mean in practice. Fiona explained that SG works closely with Trading Standards and Environmental Health, and highlighted a key difference between Scotland and the rest of the UK: Scotland has chosen to retain and expand the Tobacco and Vapes Register rather than move to a licensing system.

Dr Duncan Gillespie (University of Sheffield) asked what Scotland is considering and prioritising going forward, to help academics understand where their evidence could be most useful. Fiona responded that she could not provide details until Royal Assent, but noted that the register will be a key area of future focus and that academics at the University of Edinburgh have already supported SG with an international review of registers and licensing schemes.

Dr Garth Reid (Public Health Scotland) emphasised the importance of addressing price, product availability, and future taxation models, noting that he would like to see those covered. Linda stressed that while the bill is broad, there will be opportunities for additional measures depending on ministerial direction, and highlighted the crucial role of the Expert Group in generating evidence. Fiona added that this evidence directly informs and expands what ministers are able to consider.

Areas of research focus and evidence gaps

Dr Serena Di Genova (Senior Research Officer and lead analyst on smoking and vaping) presented an overview of the data underpinning the Tobacco and Vaping Framework. She introduced the 5 key indicators (adult smoking prevalence, adult smoking prevalence by deprivation, maternal smoking at first antenatal appointment, and youth smoking and vaping prevalence) and highlighted the persistence of inequalities across these measures.

Serena highlighted major gaps in youth data following the discontinuation of Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey and the Health and Wellbeing Census. To address this, the Scottish Government commissioned a Scotland booster sample in the ASH Smoke‑Free GB Youth Survey. While this provides timely annual data, it is not representative by deprivation, which limits its usefulness for analysing inequalities.

She also described the formation of the Phase 2 Indicators Group, involving Scottish Government analysts and policy colleagues, academics and Public Health Scotland (PHS), which developed a list of additional indicators for inclusion in the second implementation plan.

Serena concluded by presenting an overview of recent SG publications, including several evidence reviews conducted in-house and others completed by PHS and academic colleagues.

Robert Tempelaar (ASH Scotland) noted the absence of a specific indicator measuring youth prevalence by deprivation. Serena confirmed that SG is exploring different options, including the Planet Youth data collected in six Local Authorities.

Dr Ivan Gee (Liverpool John Moores University) asked about the availability of maternal smoking data in Scotland and the Scottish Government’s position on the use of vapes as a cessation aid during pregnancy. Fiona explained that SG, together with PHS, undertook a review of smoking cessation services and maternal health, and is working to improve administrative data by consistently recording smoking and vaping status. She emphasised that long-term harms of vaping are not yet known, whereas the harms of smoking are well established. Therefore, if a woman wants to use vapes to quit, that is their choice, though ideally NRT should be used. Serena added that the maternal data presented come from PHS, with available releases beginning in 2022, and provided further details about sample sizes and the NHS boards represented.

Opportunities for collaboration

Linda invited views on how the group could best support SG policy and analytical teams, for example through topic‑specific seminars for policy teams, ad hoc working groups on analytical or regulatory questions, one‑to‑one discussions with analysts or policy officers, and peer review of SG evidence reviews.

Prof Francesco Moscone (Brunel University of London) said he would be happy to contribute and expressed interest in understanding the type of economic work being undertaken. Serena noted that economists are already supporting HABIT and confirmed she could make the relevant connections and flag upcoming opportunities.

Prof Simon Cox (University of Edinburgh) noted that he would benefit from a clearer understanding of the existing evidence gaps, as this would help him assess how his expertise (in the relative contribution of risk factors and determinants of later-life neurocognitive outcomes) could best support the group. Linda and Fiona explained that Committee members often raise questions in this area, so knowing which experts to consult is extremely valuable.

Dr Duncan Gillespie (University of Sheffield) explained that he works with local policymakers in Sheffield to involve young people in tobacco related policy implementation and highlighted challenges in accessing usable Trading Standards data for evaluation. He also expressed enthusiasm for promoting smoke-free university policies and has been thinking of a network for universities to exchange ideas and improve their environments.

Dr Marisa de Andrade (University of Edinburgh) explained that their UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded programme has gathered extensive lived experience data from deprived communities across Scotland (including youth and prison settings), and that they are keen to connect this grassroots evidence with the group’s analytical questions and identified evidence gaps.

Next steps

The group will meet again in approximately six months. Linda, Fiona and Serena thanked participants and encouraged ongoing communication, particularly around emerging evidence, methodological innovation, and opportunities for future joint work.