Latest news with #RichardCrosby
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Brit holiday warning as major destination BANS nicotine pouches – and visitors face ‘terrifying' six-figure fine & jail
With the new law, carrying a pouch in France is now legally more dangerous than carrying heroin BRITS heading to France have been warned they could face five years in jail and a £320,000 fine simply for carrying nicotine pouches under radical new laws. The crackdown, which kicked in on Monday, introduces the toughest nicotine pouch ban in Europe — and experts have branded it 'terrifying' and 'completely disproportionate'. Advertisement 4 Brits face jail in France for nicotine pouches under a tough new law Credit: Getty 4 Tourists risk getting a £320,000 fine and five years in prison for carrying pouches Credit: Getty Richard Crosby, UK director of the campaign group Considerate Pouchers, slammed the penalties, warning thousands of British tourists could now be treated like drug traffickers. He said: 'How can carrying a nicotine pouch be worse than carrying heroin and result in going to prison — let alone for five years?' Crosby added: 'The penalties being proposed by French authorities are terrifying, completely disproportionate and make no sense.' He warned the move would turn well-meaning holidaymakers into criminals overnight and hand French police an 'impossible task' of enforcement. Advertisement 'The messaging for people using pouches instead of cigarettes in France — other than they are considered criminals — seems to be the government would prefer it if you smoked,' he said. 'It is a huge, backwards step.' The hardline law — which now makes France the strictest country in Europe for pouch control — arrives just days before the UK bans disposable vapes on June 1, a move expected to push more Brits toward pouches as a smoke-free alternative. Already, around 530,000 Brits use nicotine pouches — double the number in 2020 — and many could now be unknowingly breaking the law in France, the second most popular holiday spot after Spain. Advertisement The harshest penalties in France previously applied to possession of drugs like heroin and cocaine, which carry a maximum one-year jail term and £3,200 fine — a fraction of the punishment now facing pouch users. Disposable vapes will be banned across UK by next summer to stop Britain's kids from getting hooked The new ban is also likely to cause a stir in the sports world, where pouch use is widespread among elite athletes. A Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) study found one in five male pros use nicotine pouches to boost focus and performance. Premier League players travelling to France for Champions League fixtures will now be breaking the law if they pack pouches — along with rugby stars, runners and cyclists competing in French events like the Tour de France and the French Open, which began Sunday. Advertisement Critics say the ban will also fuel a black market, penalise harm reduction, and catch tourists out. Crosby added: 'The ban would turn ordinary Brits into lawbreakers… and leave French police with an impossible task of enforcement due to the high number of British tourists using pouches.' Despite the backlash, French officials moved ahead after notifying the European Commission in February. As no objections were raised within three months, the policies kicked in on May 26. Advertisement The ban prohibits the production, possession, import, export, sale and use of oral nicotine products — which the French Public Health Code now categorises as 'venomous substances'. The French government justified the law by citing the 'attractiveness, harmfulness, dependence and method of use' of pouches and insisted the blanket ban was 'justified in order to achieve the objective of preserving public health'. But the French Council of State itself branded the legislation 'disproportionate'. 4 The ban could catch out 13 million Brits who visit France each year Credit: Getty Advertisement 4 Experts slammed French pouch penalties as 'terrifying and disproportionate' Credit: Getty Other EU countries like Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg have imposed restrictions on pouches — but none have criminalised personal use with such severe penalties. Back in the UK, pouches will soon be restricted to over-18s under the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, now moving through the House of Lords. Small businesses have warned parts of the bill — especially advertising bans on nicotine replacement products — could backfire, harming sales and potentially increasing smoking rates and illicit trade. Advertisement While nicotine pouches remain controversial, evidence suggests they are among the safest nicotine products available. The 2022 Murkett scale gave cigarettes a maximum health risk score of 100, cigars 40.4 and vapes 2.7 — but rated pouches just 0.1, nearly negligible. Sweden has already achieved 'smoke-free' status by embracing alternatives like pouches, which harm reduction advocates say should be part of the solution — not banned outright. Recent UK research found one million smokers a year try quitting using ineffective methods like willpower and patches — while vaping and pouches offer more success. Advertisement Yet under France's new rules, carrying a pouch is now legally more dangerous than carrying heroin.
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Brit holiday warning as major destination BANS nicotine pouches – and visitors face ‘terrifying' six-figure fine & jail
BRITS heading to France have been warned they could face five years in jail and a £320,000 fine simply for carrying nicotine pouches under radical new laws. The crackdown, which kicked in on Monday, introduces the toughest nicotine pouch ban in Europe — and experts have branded it 'terrifying' and 'completely disproportionate'. 4 Brits face jail in France for nicotine pouches under a tough new law Credit: Getty 4 Tourists risk getting a £320,000 fine and five years in prison for carrying pouches Credit: Getty Richard Crosby, UK director of the campaign group Considerate Pouchers, slammed the penalties, warning thousands of British tourists could now be treated like drug traffickers. He said: 'How can carrying a nicotine pouch be worse than carrying heroin and result in going to prison — let alone for five years?' Crosby added: 'The penalties being proposed by French authorities are terrifying, completely disproportionate and make no sense.' He warned the move would turn well-meaning holidaymakers into criminals overnight and hand French police an 'impossible task' of enforcement. Read more on smoking 'The messaging for people using pouches instead of cigarettes in France — other than they are considered criminals — seems to be the government would prefer it if you smoked,' he said. 'It is a huge, backwards step.' The hardline law — which now makes France the strictest country in Europe for pouch control — Already, around 530,000 Brits use nicotine pouches — double the number in 2020 — and many could now be unknowingly breaking the law in France, the second most popular holiday spot after Spain. Most read in Health The harshest penalties in France previously applied to possession of drugs like heroin and cocaine, which carry a maximum one-year jail term and £3,200 fine — a fraction of the punishment now facing pouch users. Disposable vapes will be banned across UK by next summer to stop Britain's kids from getting hooked The new ban is also likely to cause a stir in the sports world, where pouch use is widespread among elite athletes. A Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) study found one in five male pros use nicotine pouches to boost focus and performance. Premier League players travelling to France for Champions League fixtures will now be breaking the law if they pack pouches — along with rugby stars, runners and cyclists competing in French events like the Tour de France and the French Open, which began Sunday. Critics say the ban will also fuel a black market, penalise harm reduction, and catch tourists out. Crosby added: 'The ban would turn ordinary Brits into lawbreakers… and leave French police with an impossible task of enforcement due to the high number of British tourists using pouches.' Despite the backlash, French officials moved ahead after notifying the European Commission in February. As no objections were raised within three months, the policies kicked in on May 26. The ban prohibits the production, possession, import, export, sale and use of oral nicotine products — which the French Public Health Code now categorises as 'venomous substances'. The French government justified the law by citing the 'attractiveness, harmfulness, dependence and method of use' of pouches and insisted the blanket ban was 'justified in order to achieve the objective of preserving public health'. But the French Council of State itself branded the legislation 'disproportionate'. 4 The ban could catch out 13 million Brits who visit France each year Credit: Getty 4 Experts slammed French pouch penalties as 'terrifying and disproportionate' Credit: Getty Other EU countries like Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg have imposed restrictions on pouches — but none have criminalised personal use with such severe penalties. Back in the UK, pouches will soon be restricted to over-18s under the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, now moving through the House of Lords. Small businesses have warned parts of the bill — especially advertising bans on nicotine replacement products — could backfire, harming sales and potentially increasing smoking rates and illicit trade. While nicotine pouches remain controversial, evidence suggests they are among the safest nicotine products available. The 2022 Murkett scale gave cigarettes a maximum health risk score of 100, cigars 40.4 and vapes 2.7 — but rated pouches just 0.1, nearly negligible. Sweden has already achieved 'smoke-free' status by embracing alternatives like pouches, which harm reduction advocates say should be part of the solution — not banned outright. Recent UK research found one million smokers a year try quitting using ineffective methods like willpower and patches — while vaping and pouches offer more success. Yet under France's new rules, carrying a pouch is now legally more dangerous than carrying heroin. Smoking vs. vaping VAPING has been touted as an effective tool to help people quit smoking. Though vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the habit isn't completely harmless and comes with its own set of risks. The NHS only recommends it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking. GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye explained to The Sun that the differences between vaping and smoking - and whether one is better than the other - is "complicated". "In a nutshell, vaping is better than smoking, but breathing air is better than vaping at all." Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins - and at lower levels - than smoking cigarettes. Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke. These diseases are not caused by nicotine, which is relatively harmless to health. But research has still linked vaping to a higher risk of failure and lung disease. Health risks of cigarettes Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body It affects overall health too, such as your mouth, eyes, immune system and fertility Health risks of vaping They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick They could lead to tooth decay They could damage heart health They could cause lung disease They could slow brain development Read more on how vaping can affect your health Sources: NHS, CDC
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brit holiday warning as major destination BANS nicotine pouches – and visitors face ‘terrifying' six-figure fine & jail
BRITS heading to France have been warned they could face five years in jail and a £320,000 fine simply for carrying nicotine pouches under radical new laws. The crackdown, which kicked in on Monday, introduces the toughest nicotine pouch ban in Europe — and experts have branded it 'terrifying' and 'completely disproportionate'. 4 4 Richard Crosby, UK director of the campaign group Considerate Pouchers, slammed the penalties, warning thousands of British tourists could now be treated like drug traffickers. He said: 'How can carrying a nicotine pouch be worse than carrying heroin and result in going to prison — let alone for five years?' Crosby added: 'The penalties being proposed by French authorities are terrifying, completely disproportionate and make no sense.' He warned the move would turn well-meaning holidaymakers into criminals overnight and hand French police an 'impossible task' of enforcement. 'The messaging for people using pouches instead of cigarettes in France — other than they are considered criminals — seems to be the government would prefer it if you smoked,' he said. 'It is a huge, backwards step.' The hardline law — which now makes France the strictest country in Europe for pouch control — arrives just days before the UK bans disposable vapes on June 1, a move expected to push more Brits toward pouches as a smoke-free alternative. Already, around 530,000 Brits use nicotine pouches — double the number in 2020 — and many could now be unknowingly breaking the law in France, the second most popular holiday spot after Spain. The harshest penalties in France previously applied to possession of drugs like heroin and cocaine, which carry a maximum one-year jail term and £3,200 fine — a fraction of the punishment now facing pouch users. Disposable vapes will be banned across UK by next summer to stop Britain's kids from getting hooked The new ban is also likely to cause a stir in the sports world, where pouch use is widespread among elite athletes. A Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) study found one in five male pros use nicotine pouches to boost focus and performance. Premier League players travelling to France for Champions League fixtures will now be breaking the law if they pack pouches — along with rugby stars, runners and cyclists competing in French events like the Tour de France and the French Open, which began Sunday. Critics say the ban will also fuel a black market, penalise harm reduction, and catch tourists out. Crosby added: 'The ban would turn ordinary Brits into lawbreakers… and leave French police with an impossible task of enforcement due to the high number of British tourists using pouches.' Despite the backlash, French officials moved ahead after notifying the European Commission in February. As no objections were raised within three months, the policies kicked in on May 26. The ban prohibits the production, possession, import, export, sale and use of oral nicotine products — which the French Public Health Code now categorises as 'venomous substances'. The French government justified the law by citing the 'attractiveness, harmfulness, dependence and method of use' of pouches and insisted the blanket ban was 'justified in order to achieve the objective of preserving public health'. But the French Council of State itself branded the legislation 'disproportionate'. 4 4 Other EU countries like Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg have imposed restrictions on pouches — but none have criminalised personal use with such severe penalties. Back in the UK, pouches will soon be restricted to over-18s under the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, now moving through the House of Lords. Small businesses have warned parts of the bill — especially advertising bans on nicotine replacement products — could backfire, harming sales and potentially increasing smoking rates and illicit trade. While nicotine pouches remain controversial, evidence suggests they are among the safest nicotine products available. The 2022 Murkett scale gave cigarettes a maximum health risk score of 100, cigars 40.4 and vapes 2.7 — but rated pouches just 0.1, nearly negligible. Sweden has already achieved 'smoke-free' status by embracing alternatives like pouches, which harm reduction advocates say should be part of the solution — not banned outright. Recent UK research found one million smokers a year try quitting using ineffective methods like willpower and patches — while vaping and pouches offer more success. Yet under France's new rules, carrying a pouch is now legally more dangerous than carrying heroin. Smoking vs. vaping VAPING has been touted as an effective tool to help people quit smoking. Though vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, the habit isn't completely harmless and comes with its own set of risks. The NHS only recommends it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking. GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye explained to The Sun that the differences between vaping and smoking - and whether one is better than the other - is "complicated". "In a nutshell, vaping is better than smoking, but breathing air is better than vaping at all." Vaping exposes users to far fewer toxins - and at lower levels - than smoking cigarettes. Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke. These diseases are not caused by nicotine, which is relatively harmless to health. But research has still linked vaping to a higher risk of failure and lung disease. Health risks of cigarettes Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer Smokers are at greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body It affects overall health too, such as your mouth, eyes, immune system and fertility Health risks of vaping They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick They could lead to tooth decay They could damage heart health They could cause lung disease They could slow brain development Read more on how vaping can affect your health here. Sources: NHS, CDC
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TVCC offering grants for free business training
Businesses with fewer than 100 employees can take advantage of a grant awarded to Trinity Valley Community College to train the workforce in Palestine. Through the Skills for Small Business Grant, companies can receive up to $1,000 per employee to train staff members, and up to $2,000 for employees who have been with the company for fewer than 90 days. Employees can receive training at no cost to the organization. 'The Skills for Small Business Grant is designed to support companies that usually don't have the budget to pay for training,' said Richard Crosby, associate vice president of workforce education at TVCC. 'Investing in employees can support retention while giving them the skills they need to succeed in their jobs.' Crosby said TVCC has received $44,000 in grant funds to cover employee training costs. Of that, $10,000 needs to go toward training early childhood education professionals. Training can start at any time and isn't limited to the standard school calendar. "TVCC is an incredible resource for the city of Palestine, and it's just one of many organizations supporting business owners in the region," said Christophe Trahan, director of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation. Companies can apply through the Texas Workforce Commission Crosby said business owners and human resources teams that want to receive free training for employees can apply for this grant through the Texas Workforce Commission. Click 'Apply Now' under the Resource section and complete a form that describes the types of training you need. Make sure to list TVCC as your education provider so the college is aware you need training services. If TWC approves your application, it will send TVCC a list of employees who need to be trained and the types of training they need. Each employee doesn't need to receive $1,000 worth of training. Many TVCC training programs cost around $500. OSHA 10 training costs less than $100, and OSHA 30 training costs around that much. 'We're trying to find programs that support as many industries as possible so this grant money helps the maximum number of companies in Palestine,' Crosby said. 'If a company asks about a specific type of training, we'll see what we can offer.' Employees can attend training sessions in person at the Palestine campus off Hwy. 19 or participate in online and hybrid coursework. Crosby said TVCC can also develop programs where staff members visit your workplace to lead the training. 'Sometimes it's easier for one person to drive across town to a company instead of asking 15 employees to travel to attend the training,' he said. 'We'll find a way to make it work for you.' Training reintroduces employees to the education environment Crosby said some employees only want enough training needed to do their jobs, but other employees might use this grant program to begin their education journeys. He said they can meet with TVCC instructors and advisors to learn about potential degree pathways and opportunities to learn while working full-time. Basic employer-provided training programs can reintroduce employees to the classroom and dust off their study skills. Crosby said this can give them confidence in their learning skills moving forward. 'Training is essential,' he said. 'It builds confidence for the employee in their current job and in the learning process itself. Getting a taste of training can lead them down the path of a certificate or degree. 'An interest in education and knowledge advancement also helps employers. This better prepares employees to advance in their careers or change jobs within the company. It gives local businesses a more qualified talent pool to hire from.' The TVCC grant is good for economic development According to Crosby, once TVCC fully expends the Skills for Small Business Grant, it intends to apply for more. 'Training Palestine employees only benefits the local community and sets several industries up for success in the future,' Crosby said. There's a lot of entry-level skills needed in the Palestine area to get people into the workforce. Some higher-paying jobs require specific skills, but they're not hard to attain, they just need training.' Crosby used computer literacy as an example. 'Employees don't need specific computer degrees to prove they have these skills; the right training programs will suffice,' he said. 'Upskilling the workforce allows companies to hire locally, which means more employee salaries stay within the community. This can spur economic growth. When one company hires and trains Palestine residents, nearby businesses benefit from those workers spending their paychecks. This investment also leads to better infrastructure and resources through local tax collection.' Crosby said TVCC has seen a lot of interest from businesses who want to use this grant. 'The college wants to reach as many companies as possible with these funds. The more companies participate, the more value TVCC provides,' he said. 'We are a community college and the word community should resonate with everyone. This grant is an opportunity to be part of the community and give back to it.'
