Leading retailers have hit back at fresh calls for plain packaging on vape products, arguing that tackling the illicit trade would be more effective than new regulations.
It comes after new research suggested that a policy to standardise packaging could reduce youth and non-smoking adults’ interest in trying vaping products.
The move would be similar to The Standards Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulation that was introduced in 2017 to curb the appeal of tobacco products, particularly to young people.
Vidur Pandya of Kislingbury Village Store said the government should be looking to combat the black market rather than “killing the industry with red tape”.
The noise around the plain packaging proposal “isn’t addressing the root cause of the problem,” Vidur said. “Children are getting their hands on vapes everyday from the illicit trade,” he added.
A single license for vapes, tobacco and alcohol would eliminate “a lot of the illicit trade” and “support genuine retailers making a living from the convenience offering in the community,” he said.
“If you’re caught selling age restricted products to under 18s or illicit items, you should then lose your licence to trade completely for those three categories.”
Vidur claimed alcohol is “equally as attractive” to children. “The new RTD cans are full of colours and flavours - are they looking at plain packaging for them in the future? Cleary not in my opinion,” he said.
Similarly, Londis retailer Nishi Patel insisted that unregulated online sellers and illicit traders are the real problem behind youth access to vaping products.
“All responsible retailers ensure children don’t get their hands on vapes. I think it’s more a black market problem than a convenience problem,” said the owner of the Londis in Bexley Park.
Vape products are heading down the same track as tobacco, according to Nishi. “Unfortunately, I believe all retailers think this will be the natural progression for vaping products. I’m sure they’ll talk about putting it behind closed doors eventually, just like tobacco,” he said.
Responding to the plain packaging suggestion, Online vape store Vape Superstore said it supports active measures that prevent under-18s from accessing vapes, but believes 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,” a spokesperson told Convenience Store.
“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.”
Last month, a study by the University of Bath revealed one in four vapes confiscated from secondary school pupils in London and Lancashire contain the dangerous synthetic drug ’spice’.
It found spice-laced e-liquids were easily available online, with researchers uncovering a widespread and overt market on social media platforms.
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