Bruising Fortnight for Vaping
Vaping in the UK is suffering from a constant kicking from all sides currently, thanks to the actions of some disposable manufacturers and retailers, and it continues in this month’s Talking Retail trade magazine
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by Dave Cross
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So far, in 2023:
- The executive director of Material Focus demand “urgent action now” to ensure disposable ecigs get recycled.
- DEFRA Under-Secretary Rebecca Pow tell Parliament that “children are attracted by the disposable vapes”.
- Stories about the seizure of illegal vapes.
- Attacks on vaping in countries that have adopted the product for tobacco harm reduction.
- UKVIA responded to calls to ban disposables to protect the environment.
- Scotland to ban disposables?
- Trading Standards reporting that there is a boom in the illicit supply of disposables.
- Anti-vape media hysteria.
- Bloomberg plugging an extra $420million into anti-vape campaigning.
- Disposables attacked on Radio 4.
- 10-Minute Bill to ban disposables progress to the Second Reading unopposed.
- Illegal Elf Bar products removed from sale in national supermarket chains.
- The Chartered Trading Standards Institute calling for harsh anti-vape regulations.
- Action on Smoking and Health calling for harsher anti-vape regulations.
- VPZ censured by the Advertising Standards Authority.
- 5Live focussing on vaping in schools.
And this is just a snapshot of the stories floating around the media.
Now, Talking Retail’s Tony Corbin turns the retail sectors gaze on the actions of a small group of retailers. He says that reputational damage in the past has come from those, “either wilfully or irresponsibly”, selling alcohol and cigarettes to teens.
“In recent years, however, that narrative has started to recede, thanks in no small part to responsible retailing initiatives such as Challenge 25 and the continued vigilance of independent retailers and their staff.”
But disposable vapes is changing this, he believes.
“Over the past 18 months a new threat has started to emerge – under-age and illegal vaping.”
Devices that may be legal in other markets are illegal in the United Kingdom because they either contain too much e-liquid or the nicotine concentration is over 20mg/ml.
“According to media reports, there has been a big rise in seizures of illicit vapes at British ports, while trading standards officers say illegal vaping devices and under-age sales now top their list of professional concerns,” Corbin writes.
He points to the current attack points du jour: “Many counterfeit vapes are brightly coloured and feature flavours that are clearly designed to appeal to a younger audience.
Add to that the lower prices commanded by illicit versus legitimate products, and these devices are obviously going to prove more of a draw to youngsters on a limited budget.”
Without doubt, there is a concerted campaign taking place to press the UK Government into clamping down on vaping. The industry needs to get on the front foot as soon as possible otherwise we are likely to see a reversal of the progress made in tackling the harm caused by tobacco.
Manufacturers of disposable products need to address the environmental sustainability of their devices, fit for purpose recycling options need to be put in place, stiff action should be taken against those providing ecigs to young people, and communication of the benefits of vaping (and the need for flavours) desperately needs improving.
If the industry fails to address these points it will find itself continually fighting PR fires.
Photo Credit:
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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