Following last week’s news from the Government around the packaging and display of vaping products in future, further companies associated with the industry and its products have now come forward with their thoughts on the developing news.
The founder of the UK’s leading vape distributor has described the Government’s proposed plans to impose packaging and display limits on vapes as “disproportionate,” warning they could prevent smokers from giving up tobacco.
Chris Kelly (left), founder of Phoenix 2 Retail, says the plans risk losing sight of the products’ effectiveness as a tool which can be used to help smokers quit by treating them in the same way as tobacco.
His comments followed the launch last Friday of the Department of Health & Social Care’s UK-wide consultation on plans to introduce plain packaging and restrict flavour descriptions for vapes, as part of efforts to stop them appearing attractive to children.
The proposals, which follow on from the Tobacco & Vapes Act, would also require vapes to be sold with plain packaging and concealed out of sight in shops, moving all displays behind the counter or into closed cabinets.
Kelly said: “We welcome the Government’s aim of protecting young people from vaping, which is an objective everybody in this industry agrees with, but these proposed actions are disproportionate to what’s needed to achieve that aim.
“By treating vapes and pouches with the same regulatory approach as we do tobacco products, we’re losing sight of the notion that they’re a less harmful alternative to smoking and proven to be the most effective tool we have to help smokers quit. That has to stay the focus. However, taking them out of the sight of smokers means they’re less likely to try them and less likely to switch from combustibles to vaping.”
Kelly’s comments echo the concern raised by the wider industry, which he also says is already struggling to absorb rapid changes caused by previous legislation introduced in a short period: “We’re also concerned from an industry point of view in the wake of the rapid changes that we’re still adjusting to following the legislation brought in over the last 12 to 18 months alone.
“The ban on disposable vapes and the introduction of a new duty have resulted in significant undertakings for businesses of every size across the supply chain, so we’d urge the Government to give us the time and support we need before introducing more changes.
“With this in mind, I sincerely hope that businesses, alongside adult smokers who’ve successfully switched and retailers who take age verification seriously, are involved in this consultation and that whatever policy emerges is based on having seen the full picture, rather than believing in the misinformation that is all-too-often printed about our industry.”
Supplier Vape Superstore have also issued a statement after the news broke: “We fully support active measures that prevent under 18s from accessing vapes, including strict age-verification processes both online and in-store.
“We believe vaping must remain an attractive alternative for adult smokers looking to quit cigarettes…”
“At the same time, we believe vaping must remain an attractive alternative for adult smokers looking to quit cigarettes. Packaging, flavours and product choice play an important role in encouraging smokers to make the switch and stay smoke-free. Overly standardised packaging risks diluting that appeal for adults, potentially slowing down quit rates.
“The priority should be clear, enforceable rules that stop youth access, whilst ensuring vaping continues to be a viable, effective harm-reduction tool for adults.”
Finally for now, British e-liquid manufacturer, Riot Labs, is broadly backing any tougher controls on where vapes are sold, but warns the proposals risk deepening the public misperception that vaping is as harmful as smoking.
Ben Johnson, chief executive of Riot Labs, said: “The Government is about to dress the cure like the disease. Vaping is not risk-free and it is not for children, but for an adult smoker it can be a route away from cigarettes. Policy should protect children without blurring that distinction.
“Stop selling vapes alongside sweets in shops children use. Keep plain, tightly controlled tobacco-flavoured vapes behind the counter in convenience stores. Then license adult-only specialist shops to provide wider choice and experienced advice to help smokers switch.”
The consultation does not propose identical packs for tobacco and vapes. Vape packs would be white, tobacco packs dark brown, and separate price lists are proposed. Riot says the problem is not the colour. It added that if cigarettes and vapes are hidden in the same way across general retail and specialist vape shops, smokers may see them as the same kind of product.
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