Alan
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algore09algor.bsky.social
Alan
@algore09algor.bsky.social
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algore09algor.bsky.social
@alexwodak.bsky.social

Part II: The Scientists Are Doing Their Part. Advocates Must Do Theirs.

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
Part II: The Scientists Are Doing Their Part. Advocates Must Do Theirs.
In the aftermath of The Scientists Who Didn’t Get the Memo, a researcher described what it took to publish a single paper.
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Cristopher Snowdon smashes Australia’s Tobacco Taliban:

“The black market in cigarettes is now so normal in Australia that little old ladies are not just buying them but are happy to have their name and photo published in the New York Times”

open.substack.com/pub/snowdon/...
Australia's black market nightmare
Things have got so bad that even the Tobacco Taliban have had to wake up
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Tobacco control has such weak arguments that smearing opponents as TI shills is standard operating procedure.
bakerbee1.bsky.social bakerbee1.bsky.social @bakerbee1.bsky.social · 8h
He must have looked back at previous interviews with you (and Colin) and decided this was the default way to start an interview with you.
February 17, 2026 at 7:11 AM
algore09algor.bsky.social
@alexwodak.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
A Long-Overdue Reckoning on Tobacco Policy
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/16/treasury-considering-changes-to-australias-contentious-tobacco-excise-as-calls-grow-for-a-freeze
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
But with tobacco excise nearly doubling over the last 10 years, many smokers are now making the shift to illicit tobacco. At the same time, government revenue from tobacco excise has fallen off a cliff.
@algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social

e61.in/chop-chop-ti...
Chop, chop: Time to cut tobacco excise rates? – e61 INSTITUTE
e61.in
February 16, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
No @sydmorningherald.bsky.social it’s not story of how Kaz Hamad seized control of Australia’s billion$ illicit cigarette trade. Where’s context of sky high cig excise & virtual prohibition nicotine vapes?

@jamomartin.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social

www.smh.com.au/national/vic...
The billion-dollar move crime boss made for Australia’s top illicit cigarette brand
Kazem Hamad’s crime empire secured a major stake in Manchester tobacco company, and with it power over the illicit market from production to street-level sale.
www.smh.com.au
February 15, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Australia has world’s most expensive cigarettes, pack costs ~$A55 dollars, =~ #$US40, nearly 2x price NYC! 8 steep tax hikes/10 years to ⬇️smoking which has steadily declined.But high prices also ➡️thriving multibillion-$ black market now ➡️ for ~1/2 Oz tobacco sales

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...
How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Alan
jamomartin.bsky.social
This seems like progress.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze
The tax has climbed by 60% since 2020 and accounts for three-quarters of the legal cost of a packet of cigarettes
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:52 PM
algore09algor.bsky.social
A Letter From a Future Smoker

@alexwodak.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
A Letter From a Future Smoker
I quit smoking in 2022.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Clear for years vaping isn’t gateway to smoking. It’s bollocks. But hasn’t stopped vape opponents using it as weapon to spread doubt & slow inevitable & unstoppable replacement deadly cigarettes by safer, smoke-free nicotine products @jmenezes.bsky.social @igas2.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social
February 15, 2026 at 3:38 AM
algore09algor.bsky.social
The “Gateway” Narrative After Fifteen Years: A Retrospective Autopsy

@alexwodak.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
The “Gateway” Narrative After Fifteen Years: A Retrospective Autopsy
For more than fifteen years, one word has hovered over every debate about vaping: gateway.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
1/2 Japan Tobacco 2025 results p10:

“Total industry volume was almost flat as the decline in Combustibles [cigarettes] was offset by RRP [reduced risk products] growing by 8.1%. RRP industry volume was estimated at 46.4% (shipment basis) of the total industry size. ..
February 15, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Alan
chancethegardener.bsky.social
Just hypothetically, what if ADULT nicotine vaping is skyrocketing, adult smoking is plummeting, and cancer, heart and lung disease are all dropping? That would be good... right?

CDC and NIH/NCI references follow.
1/2 ⬇️
February 14, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
2/2 Combustibles volume decreased by 6.0%, due to an industry volume contraction estimated at 6.5%.

www.jt.com/investors/re...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social @croakeynews.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social @ianamossyd.bsky.social @igas2.bsky.social @jmenezes.bsky.social
www.jt.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Reposted by Alan
clearingtheair.bsky.social
🚨 BREAKING: UK Government launches 12-week consultation to expand smoke-free (and vape-free) zones in England. 🇬🇧🚭 Public consultation is open until May 8, have your say on the future of #PublicHealth. 🏛️📈 clearingtheair.eu/post/uk-gove...
UK Government consults on expanding smoke-free rules in England
The UK Government will today (Friday) launch a 12-week public consultation on proposals to extend smoke-free legislation in England, as part of its 10 Year Health Plan. The consultation will run from…
clearingtheair.eu
February 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Alan
clearingtheair.bsky.social
63% of smokers are getting the science wrong. 📉🛑 A massive new U.S. study shows most people believe nicotine is the main health threat. Misunderstanding the risk is the biggest barrier to quitting. 🚭🧠 #NicotineFacts #ScienceFirst #HarmReduction clearingtheair.eu/post/most-ci...
Most cigarette and little cigar users overestimate nicotine’s harm, new U.S. Path study finds - Clearing the Air
Most adults who use little cigars and cigarillos overestimate the dangers of nicotine - and they are just as likely to get it wrong as people who smoke
clearingtheair.eu
February 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM
algore09algor.bsky.social
An Open Letter to Tobacco Control Academics: When Will You Look Abroad?
@alexwodak.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
An Open Letter to Tobacco Control Academics: When Will You Look Abroad?
Dear Tobacco Control Academics,
open.substack.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Reposted by Alan
clearingtheair.bsky.social
Stop the scaremongering. 🛑 France’s ANSES confirms: No smoke = far fewer toxins. With an 80-100% reduction in harmful compounds & zero tumours identified in users, the data is clear: Vaping is a life-saving exit ramp from cigarettes. #PublicHealth #Vaping #FactCheck clearingtheair.eu/post/french-...
French health agency confirms vaping far less harmful than smoking
ANSES says vaping’s health effects are not of equivalent severity to those caused by tobacco Risks from vaping remain lower than those associated with smoking No tumours identified in people who vape…
clearingtheair.eu
February 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
algore09algor.bsky.social
How You Can Help Fight Bad Policy on Vaping & Tobacco Harm Reduction in Australia
@alexwodak.bsky.social (Thank you)
@melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
How You Can Help Fight Bad Policy on Vaping & Tobacco Harm Reduction in Australia
Australia is at a crossroads.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Alan
clearingtheair.bsky.social
France’s high taxes aren't stopping smoking; they’re just starting road trips. 🚗💨 53% of French smokers now buy their tobacco abroad to dodge high prices. In border regions, that number hits nearly 70%. 🇪🇸🇮🇹 #France #TaxPolicy #TobaccoControl clearingtheair.eu/post/majorit...
Majority of French smokers turning to cross-border and illegal markets as prices rise, study finds
A majority of French smokers are now sourcing tobacco and vaping products outside traditional retail channels, with many turning to cross-border shopping or illicit markets as prices increase,…
clearingtheair.eu
February 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Tobacco control hostility to vaping isn’t about evidence, nor is it about objectives, protecting human rights or compassion for disadvantaged over represented among smokers. It’s about preserving their power & income stream from $1.6 billion donated by billionaire Bloomberg @igas2.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 7:13 AM
algore09algor.bsky.social
What Evidence Would Ever Change Their Minds?

@alexwodak.bsky.social @melissasweetdr.bsky.social @squigglyrick.bsky.social @drbfreeman.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/09algor/...
What Evidence Would Ever Change Their Minds?
One of the simplest ways to test whether a policy position is evidence-based or ideological is to ask a single, unfashionable question: what evidence would change your mind?
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Starting methadone programs involved ferocious battle every country but eventually they were expanded, improved & appreciated. Opposition slowly decreased. Just like introducing vaping today! @harmreductionintl.bsky.social @tninstitute.bsky.social @steverolles.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Alan
alexwodak.bsky.social
Starting needle syringe programs bloody battle in every country! Then had to be expanded to scale. Eventually were accepted as hugely beneficial. Same story today with vaping, heated tobacco, nicotine pouches. @chancethegardener.bsky.social @jgitchell.bsky.social @algore09algor.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Alan
clearingtheair.bsky.social
Following on from our interview with The Risk Monger @zaruk we have a 3 part video series on how Bloomberg's uses his billions to corrupt public health discourse. (pls give us a follow while you're there :) youtu.be/1x8uhNUj7Xk
Exposed: The $1.6 Billion Machine Corrupting Public Health Part 1
How does one man dictate global tobacco policy? By building the very organisations that lobby for it. In this first installment for Clearing the Air, Peter Beckett sits down with David Zaruk (The…
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 10:14 AM