The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has provided details of its submission to the government consultation around the future of vaping, as well as the way products are packaged and displayed in stores.
The trade group called for coloured marks identifying flavours to be allowed on packaging as part of any new restrictions on the branding of vaping products.
However, it added it believed placing products behind shutters in shops would be a step too far, amid fears that tighter restrictions on responsible retailers could unintentionally fuel the illicit trade and reduce obvious choices for adult smokers wishing to quit.
Coloured dots
Responding to the consultation as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, the SGF suggested that coloured dots or lettering should be allowed to help identify flavours.
In its submission, which closed on 2 October, the SGF stated: “It is important to distinguish between the partial use of colour and identifying branding and promotional design.
“We think, therefore, that there should be some allowance for differentiation on packaging, such as a coloured dot or coloured naming/wording, to account for different product types and flavours.”
The SGF also added it believed that while flavour names shouldn’t appeal to children, their appeal as a cessation tool for adult smokers who wish to quit should also not be limited. It also argued for simple fruit names to be allowed, such as raspberry or lemon, for example.
Flavour concerns
In a release, the SGF said: “There are concerns that any limitations on flavours could reverse the progress that has been made toward government’s own aim for a smoke-free generation.
“It’s commonly recognised that flavour is a critical characteristic of vaping products which helps stop smokers who wish to quit from lapsing back to cigarettes.
“Smokers who wish to quit will often start by using tobacco and non-flavoured vapes and quickly move on to other flavours, such as fruit flavoured options. Likewise, our understanding is that over two thirds of former smokers prefer fruit, mint and non-tobacco flavours, and a similar percentage say vapes helped them reduce or stop smoking.”
Behind shutters
The SGF also reaffirmed its “strong disagreement” with the proposal to place vaping products behind shutters - but said it was “content” with a requirement to have them behind the counter: “We do not wish to see them entirely removed from the view of adult smokers who wish to quit.
“Moving vapes behind shutters could create further opportunities for flashpoints…”
“Moving vapes behind shutters could create further opportunities for flashpoints and other criminal activity such as illicit trade. The proposals do not take into account the added difficulty for staff working behind the counter, while trying to identify and locate an item from potentially hundreds of similar looking items and product categories.”
The trade group said it also objected to the proposed six-month implementation period for new measures to be brought into force, arguing that it is “not feasible” on a number of grounds. It instead says the minimum requirement should be 24 months.
The organisation further stated in its submission: “Balancing the potential harms of vaping to young non-smokers against the clear benefits of vaping to adult smokers who wish to quit is an exceptionally difficult public policy issue.
“We agree that regulating packaging is a critical way of making vapes less appealing to children. Cartoons, characters, animals, inanimate objects and other child-friendly imagery have no place [on something] intended to be marketed as a cessation product for adults.
“However, policymakers must recognise the potential unintended consequences of proposals that impact the operation of small local businesses, reduce customer accessibility to legal products and potentially encourage the illicit trade.”
The Government is currently analysing responses to its consultation, with the initial results expected by the end of 2026.
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