Briefing Papers


Dead ends - the tobacco industry's quest for a ‘safe’ combustible cigarette

Tobacco companies spent decades denying any link between smoking and disease, while also trying to develop a ‘safe’ cigarette. This Briefing Paper sets out to tell the story of this quest, looking at the roles played both by those within and outside of the tobacco industry.

English 477 Web page
English 513 PDF Document

Safer nicotine product taxation and optimal strategies for public health

This Briefing Paper examines the current global situation regarding the taxation of safer nicotine products and how this relates to product accessibility, before offering evidence-based policy recommendations for optimal taxation strategies in support of harm reduction goals and public health.

English 1798 Web page
English 491 PDF Document
Portuguese 344 PDF Document
Swahili 333 PDF Document
Indonesian 332 PDF Document
German 304 PDF Document
Japanese 164 PDF Document
Hindi 163 PDF Document

How snus is replacing smoking in Norway: a revolution led by consumers and product innovation

While Sweden recently became the first smokefree country, its neighbour, Norway, is also experiencing plummeting smoking rates. This Briefing Paper explores why so many Norwegians have switched from deadly cigarettes to much safer snus.

English 1500 Web page
English 386 PDF Document
Spanish 406 PDF Document

Pro-consumer laws and an endorsement for vaping: why smoking is disappearing in Aotearoa New Zealand

This Briefing Paper tells the story of Aotearoa New Zealand's rapid and growing embrace of vaping, providing another important case study showcasing the potential of tobacco harm reduction to help bring down smoking rates.

English 1609 Web page
English 694 PDF Document
Spanish 701 PDF Document
German 496 PDF Document
Indonesian 485 PDF Document

A smokefree UK? How research, policy and vapes have cut smoking rates

The number of people who vape in the United Kingdom is soon set to exceed the number who smoke for the first time. This Briefing Paper explores the United Kingdom’s progress towards becoming smokefree, highlighting both the successes and the challenges.

English 2752 Web page
English 1238 PDF Document
German 1146 PDF Document
Polish 1042 PDF Document
Portuguese 1044 PDF Document
Spanish 1031 PDF Document
Swahili 1030 PDF Document
Russian 696 PDF Document
French 486 PDF Document

Smoking and vulnerable populations: supporting smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction in social work

Social workers build relationships with individuals who are often from marginalised or vulnerable communities where smoking rates are disproportionately high. This Briefing Paper calls for tobacco harm reduction to become more integrated into their work to reduce the harms from smoking.

English 4207 Web page
English 2440 PDF Document
Arabic 2420 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 3756 PDF Document
French 2754 PDF Document
German 2530 PDF Document
Hindi 1976 PDF Document
Indonesian 2373 PDF Document
Japanese 2357 PDF Document
Polish 2387 PDF Document
Russian 2317 PDF Document
Spanish 2481 PDF Document
Swahili 2418 PDF Document
Portuguese 507 PDF Document

Cigarette sales halved: heated tobacco products and the Japanese experience

In the ten years following the introduction of heated tobacco products to Japan, sales of cigarettes have fallen by 52% in Japan. This Briefing Paper explores some of the factors that have helped bring about this startling decline alongside the rapid growth of heated tobacco products.

English 5297 Web page
English 2434 PDF Document
Arabic 2235 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 3514 PDF Document
French 2242 PDF Document
German 2253 PDF Document
Hindi 2285 PDF Document
Indonesian 2586 PDF Document
Japanese 2477 PDF Document
Polish 2293 PDF Document
Russian 2224 PDF Document
Spanish 2857 PDF Document
Swahili 2406 PDF Document

Tobacco harm reduction and people experiencing homelessness – a UK perspective

With such high smoking rates among people who experience homelessness or rough sleeping in the UK, this Briefing Paper looks at the potential for tobacco harm reduction to help reduce the health inequalities seen in this vulnerable population.

English 4892 Web page
English 2780 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 3295 PDF Document
French 2642 PDF Document
Portuguese 2695 PDF Document
Russian 2303 PDF Document
Spanish 2712 PDF Document

Tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy organisations

Tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy organisations play a vital role in maintaining access to safer nicotine products around the world. Here we explore the development, role and importance of these grassroots groups.

English 4019 Web page
English 1842 PDF Document
Arabic 2490 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 2612 PDF Document
French 2697 PDF Document
German 2575 PDF Document
Hindi 2390 PDF Document
Indonesian 2497 PDF Document
Japanese 2482 PDF Document
Polish 2435 PDF Document
Portuguese 2203 PDF Document
Russian 2453 PDF Document
Spanish 2399 PDF Document
Swahili 2282 PDF Document


The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Conference of the Parties (COP): an explainer (updated April 2023)

With the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) taking place in November 2023, here's our updated guide to explain how the meeting works. Scroll down to access this document in multiple languages.

English 3376 Web page
English 2484 PDF Document
Arabic 1809 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 2558 PDF Document
French 1989 PDF Document
German 2046 PDF Document
Hindi 1759 PDF Document
Indonesian 2026 PDF Document
Japanese 2057 PDF Document
Polish 2151 PDF Document
Portuguese 2035 PDF Document
Russian 2006 PDF Document
Spanish 2420 PDF Document
Swahili 1803 PDF Document

What are nicotine pouches?

Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Here we provide an introduction to the tobacco harm reduction potential of this category.

English 4420 Web page
English 1458 PDF Document
French 990 PDF Document
German 1864 PDF Document
Indonesian 1556 PDF Document
Polish 2531 PDF Document
Portuguese 1391 PDF Document
Russian 1499 PDF Document
Swahili 1107 PDF Document
Spanish 391 PDF Document

The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2022: The Right Side of History

This Briefing Paper summarises The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2022: The Right Side of History, which charts the history of tobacco harm reduction to date, and considers the future for a strategy that could end smoking.

English 1666 Web page
English 1637 PDF Document
Arabic 1737 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 2099 PDF Document
French 1517 PDF Document
German 1474 PDF Document
Hindi 1345 PDF Document
Indonesian 1406 PDF Document
Japanese 1636 PDF Document
Polish 1410 PDF Document
Portuguese 1453 PDF Document
Russian 1429 PDF Document
Spanish 1458 PDF Document
Swahili 1497 PDF Document

What is snus?

Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes, but what is it and why is it considered a safer nicotine product? This Briefing Paper aims to provide the answers.

English 2337 Web page
English 1518 PDF Document
Arabic 3575 PDF Document
Chinese (Mandarin) 5871 PDF Document
French 1589 PDF Document
German 1909 PDF Document
Hindi 1006 PDF Document
Indonesian 1986 PDF Document
Japanese 1621 PDF Document
Polish 2121 PDF Document
Portuguese 1990 PDF Document
Russian 1867 PDF Document

Tobacco harm reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa

With the number of tobacco users across the continent set to rise by 2025, we look at the current state of tobacco harm reduction in the region, assessing the progress made so far and the obstacles preventing greater adoption of safer nicotine products.

English 1413 Web page
English 1322 PDF Document
Arabic 1529 PDF Document
French 1724 PDF Document
Swahili 1348 PDF Document