Dr J Robert Branston
@robbranston.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Business Economics in the School of Management and Co-Director of Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG), University of Bath, UK. Senior Editor at Tobacco Control. Regulation, Tobacco Taxation & Profitability, Micro-Firms.
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
Today, Peers meet again to debate the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
One key area for debate today is the polluter pays levy on tobacco manufacturers, a measure that could generate £700 million a year 💷🚭
One key area for debate today is the polluter pays levy on tobacco manufacturers, a measure that could generate £700 million a year 💷🚭
October 30, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Today, Peers meet again to debate the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
One key area for debate today is the polluter pays levy on tobacco manufacturers, a measure that could generate £700 million a year 💷🚭
One key area for debate today is the polluter pays levy on tobacco manufacturers, a measure that could generate £700 million a year 💷🚭
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
📣 Join us for our next #TobaccoEndgame CRE #Webinar on 🚭 tobacco product price caps! Dr Rob Branston will present 'A new avenue for tobacco control: price cap regulation'.
📆Wednesday, 12 November
⏰9:00am AEST
🔗 tobacco-endgame.centre.uq.edu.au/event/sessio...
@robbranston.bsky.social
📆Wednesday, 12 November
⏰9:00am AEST
🔗 tobacco-endgame.centre.uq.edu.au/event/sessio...
@robbranston.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 11:11 PM
📣 Join us for our next #TobaccoEndgame CRE #Webinar on 🚭 tobacco product price caps! Dr Rob Branston will present 'A new avenue for tobacco control: price cap regulation'.
📆Wednesday, 12 November
⏰9:00am AEST
🔗 tobacco-endgame.centre.uq.edu.au/event/sessio...
@robbranston.bsky.social
📆Wednesday, 12 November
⏰9:00am AEST
🔗 tobacco-endgame.centre.uq.edu.au/event/sessio...
@robbranston.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
(3/3)
Our recommendation is that the content be reviewed and, if found to be in breach, taken down. We would also recommend that the BBC exercises caution in future when deciding whether to engage with the tobacco industry and its representatives.
Read our complaint letter to the BBC below 👇
Our recommendation is that the content be reviewed and, if found to be in breach, taken down. We would also recommend that the BBC exercises caution in future when deciding whether to engage with the tobacco industry and its representatives.
Read our complaint letter to the BBC below 👇
October 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM
(3/3)
Our recommendation is that the content be reviewed and, if found to be in breach, taken down. We would also recommend that the BBC exercises caution in future when deciding whether to engage with the tobacco industry and its representatives.
Read our complaint letter to the BBC below 👇
Our recommendation is that the content be reviewed and, if found to be in breach, taken down. We would also recommend that the BBC exercises caution in future when deciding whether to engage with the tobacco industry and its representatives.
Read our complaint letter to the BBC below 👇
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
(2/3)
We believe that by giving a powerful platform to a tobacco company, this content breached the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on impartiality and related standards.
We believe that by giving a powerful platform to a tobacco company, this content breached the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on impartiality and related standards.
October 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM
(2/3)
We believe that by giving a powerful platform to a tobacco company, this content breached the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on impartiality and related standards.
We believe that by giving a powerful platform to a tobacco company, this content breached the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines on impartiality and related standards.
Very happy to have been a co-signatory on this complaint letter to the BBC
🧵 (1/3)
The @centre21cpubhealth.bsky.social has submitted a formal complaint to the BBC following its recent publication of podcast and news content which featured a tobacco industry executive.
The @centre21cpubhealth.bsky.social has submitted a formal complaint to the BBC following its recent publication of podcast and news content which featured a tobacco industry executive.
October 20, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Very happy to have been a co-signatory on this complaint letter to the BBC
My new paper looks at the impact of COVID travel restrictions on the sale of duty-free tobacco products in #Taiwan. Not being able to access cheap #dutyfree meant less #tobacco sold, a win for public health. Time for duty-free tobacco to be banned!
doi.org/10.1136/tc-2...
doi.org/10.1136/tc-2...
Effect of eliminating the sale of duty-free tobacco products: a natural experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, 2020–2023
Introduction Amidst the global effort to curb cross-border transmission of COVID-19, numerous nations enforced international travel restrictions. One example is Taiwan, which witnessed an 85%–90% redu...
doi.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
My new paper looks at the impact of COVID travel restrictions on the sale of duty-free tobacco products in #Taiwan. Not being able to access cheap #dutyfree meant less #tobacco sold, a win for public health. Time for duty-free tobacco to be banned!
doi.org/10.1136/tc-2...
doi.org/10.1136/tc-2...
Delighted to report that @allengallagher.bsky.social and I
have been appointed as Co-Directors of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. We aim to continue the great work that @tcrgbath.bsky.social has done to date!
www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...
have been appointed as Co-Directors of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. We aim to continue the great work that @tcrgbath.bsky.social has done to date!
www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...
TCRG announces new Co-Directors as part of wider structural changes
TCRG names Dr Rob Branston and Dr Allen Gallagher as Co-Directors, reflecting leadership changes under the newly formed Centre for 21st Century Public Health
www.bath.ac.uk
July 15, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Delighted to report that @allengallagher.bsky.social and I
have been appointed as Co-Directors of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. We aim to continue the great work that @tcrgbath.bsky.social has done to date!
www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...
have been appointed as Co-Directors of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. We aim to continue the great work that @tcrgbath.bsky.social has done to date!
www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...
My new paper with @zainebdanish.bsky.social @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @partnershipfree.bsky.social on #HTP taxes/prices in Ukraine. We find similar pricing tactics to combustion cigs and that lower HTP taxes were just a subsidy for the #tobacco industry tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/earl...
Examining cigarette, heated tobacco and e-cigarette market pricing and tax pass-through in Ukraine during the 2019–2022 tax reforms
Introduction This study offers a comprehensive examination of the pricing strategies/dynamics used by the tobacco/nicotine industry in response to tax increases using Ukraine as a case study during th...
tobaccocontrol.bmj.com
May 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
My new paper with @zainebdanish.bsky.social @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @partnershipfree.bsky.social on #HTP taxes/prices in Ukraine. We find similar pricing tactics to combustion cigs and that lower HTP taxes were just a subsidy for the #tobacco industry tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/earl...
Producing #tobacco products is hugely profitable. Wholesale price caps & a #polluterpays levy could stop the industry making so much from a deadly product, increase government tax revenues, and stop the industry selling with price. Public health + government finances both win! tinyurl.com/mt5fb5bs
Tackling tobacco pricing
How a proposed new levy could help to hit tobacco manufacturer' profits and reduce tobacco use.
tinyurl.com
May 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Producing #tobacco products is hugely profitable. Wholesale price caps & a #polluterpays levy could stop the industry making so much from a deadly product, increase government tax revenues, and stop the industry selling with price. Public health + government finances both win! tinyurl.com/mt5fb5bs
Great new blog by Mark Lloyd - Head of Policy at the RSA / former economic and fiscal policy in HM Treasury and No10 - adding his voice to our work that calls for a new scheme to fix the price of tobacco products and apply a #polluterpays levy to raise £700m annually
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...
Time to levy the indefensible profits of Big Tobacco | SMF
Rachel Reeves does not want to increase taxes again. This much is clear from the Spring Statement where, rather than raise revenues to ease the new pressures on the public...
www.smf.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Great new blog by Mark Lloyd - Head of Policy at the RSA / former economic and fiscal policy in HM Treasury and No10 - adding his voice to our work that calls for a new scheme to fix the price of tobacco products and apply a #polluterpays levy to raise £700m annually
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...
APPG report just out calls for 10 measures to make #smoking obsolete in the UK within 20 years. It adopts our work and joins calls for the introduction of a #polluterpays levy to limit industry prices and raise £700 million a year from the #tobaccoindustry
ash.org.uk/resources/vi...
ash.org.uk/resources/vi...
A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country: No one starts, everyone stops, no profit in tobacco - ASH
A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country – published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health in April 2025 – sets out the urgent actions needed to end smoking in a generation, cut health in...
ash.org.uk
April 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
APPG report just out calls for 10 measures to make #smoking obsolete in the UK within 20 years. It adopts our work and joins calls for the introduction of a #polluterpays levy to limit industry prices and raise £700 million a year from the #tobaccoindustry
ash.org.uk/resources/vi...
ash.org.uk/resources/vi...
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
🎉Last night MPs voted to pass the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will phase out the sale of tobacco to the next generation, protecting children from the harms of smoking.
March 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
🎉Last night MPs voted to pass the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will phase out the sale of tobacco to the next generation, protecting children from the harms of smoking.
#taxation is one of the key tools to address tobacco use, and in the EU this is governed by the tobacco tax directive #TTD. In my new @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social paper with Prof López-Nicolás/Dr Ross, we evaluate leaked proposal for reform, finding enhancements not perfection
doi.org/10.1016/j.dr...
doi.org/10.1016/j.dr...
February 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
#taxation is one of the key tools to address tobacco use, and in the EU this is governed by the tobacco tax directive #TTD. In my new @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social paper with Prof López-Nicolás/Dr Ross, we evaluate leaked proposal for reform, finding enhancements not perfection
doi.org/10.1016/j.dr...
doi.org/10.1016/j.dr...
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
(2/2) The report by The Investigative Desk with support from Tax Justice Network Africa and the Tobacco Control Research Group suggests there could be a tax discrepancy of up to $28 million.
February 12, 2025 at 10:10 AM
(2/2) The report by The Investigative Desk with support from Tax Justice Network Africa and the Tobacco Control Research Group suggests there could be a tax discrepancy of up to $28 million.
Delighted to have been involved with this really important project.
(1/2) A 🆕 report indicates inconsistencies between the amount of #cigarettes produced and the #tax paid by BATK, British American Tobacco’s Kenyan subsidiary.
www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/missing-millions-a-cross-examination-of-british-american-tobacco-kenyas-tax-bill/
www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/missing-millions-a-cross-examination-of-british-american-tobacco-kenyas-tax-bill/
February 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Delighted to have been involved with this really important project.
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
💪Strong words from Commissioner Hoekstra in FISC!
On Feb 6, @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu called for stricter tobacco control, higher taxes & fairer taxation for new products across the EU. 💪🔥
Great to see the Commissioner stepping up! We look forward to the revision of the TTD. 🚭
On Feb 6, @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu called for stricter tobacco control, higher taxes & fairer taxation for new products across the EU. 💪🔥
Great to see the Commissioner stepping up! We look forward to the revision of the TTD. 🚭
February 11, 2025 at 10:32 AM
💪Strong words from Commissioner Hoekstra in FISC!
On Feb 6, @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu called for stricter tobacco control, higher taxes & fairer taxation for new products across the EU. 💪🔥
Great to see the Commissioner stepping up! We look forward to the revision of the TTD. 🚭
On Feb 6, @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu called for stricter tobacco control, higher taxes & fairer taxation for new products across the EU. 💪🔥
Great to see the Commissioner stepping up! We look forward to the revision of the TTD. 🚭
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
✨ Episode five of our podcast Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is out now.
Dr. Allen Gallagher joins Louis to lift the lid on #illicittrade in tobacco including how #BigTobacco is involved and how it can be tackled.
Listen: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
Dr. Allen Gallagher joins Louis to lift the lid on #illicittrade in tobacco including how #BigTobacco is involved and how it can be tackled.
Listen: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
February 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
✨ Episode five of our podcast Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is out now.
Dr. Allen Gallagher joins Louis to lift the lid on #illicittrade in tobacco including how #BigTobacco is involved and how it can be tackled.
Listen: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
Dr. Allen Gallagher joins Louis to lift the lid on #illicittrade in tobacco including how #BigTobacco is involved and how it can be tackled.
Listen: shows.acast.com/deadly-indus...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
✨ Episode four of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is out now.
In this episode, Dr. Rob Branston discusses all things money with Louis including the vast profitability of the #tobaccoindustry and how #tobaccotax works.
Listen: www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/de...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
In this episode, Dr. Rob Branston discusses all things money with Louis including the vast profitability of the #tobaccoindustry and how #tobaccotax works.
Listen: www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/de...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
February 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
✨ Episode four of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is out now.
In this episode, Dr. Rob Branston discusses all things money with Louis including the vast profitability of the #tobaccoindustry and how #tobaccotax works.
Listen: www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/de...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
In this episode, Dr. Rob Branston discusses all things money with Louis including the vast profitability of the #tobaccoindustry and how #tobaccotax works.
Listen: www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/de...
#NewPodcast #DeadlyIndustryPod
Reposted by Dr J Robert Branston
Discover the ground-breaking research of The University's @tcrgbath.bsky.social with their new podcast.
In this gripping 8-episode series, hosted by TCRG investigative researcher Louis Laurence, you'll dive deep into the tobacco industry's pursuit of profit, at the expense of public health
In this gripping 8-episode series, hosted by TCRG investigative researcher Louis Laurence, you'll dive deep into the tobacco industry's pursuit of profit, at the expense of public health
New podcast digs into Tobacco Industry tactics in pursuit of profit over health
The Tobacco Control Research Group releases its new podcast series, Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
buff.ly
February 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Discover the ground-breaking research of The University's @tcrgbath.bsky.social with their new podcast.
In this gripping 8-episode series, hosted by TCRG investigative researcher Louis Laurence, you'll dive deep into the tobacco industry's pursuit of profit, at the expense of public health
In this gripping 8-episode series, hosted by TCRG investigative researcher Louis Laurence, you'll dive deep into the tobacco industry's pursuit of profit, at the expense of public health