UK Vapers Have Spoken: Help Save Vaping!
In response to the government’s open consultation on vaping, we asked UK vapers which legislation changes they support and how they feel about the UK government restricting vaping. Find out how you can make your voice heard!
With the current open consultation on proposed legislation changes surrounding vaping, we ran a vaper survey asking our customers to comment on a range of vaping issues, from changes they’d support to the broader question of what they would do if the UK government restricted their access to vaping. We learned a lot about what vapers value and how they’d respond to limits being placed on their vaping habit.
The consultation covers questions about creating a smokefree generation, tackling youth vaping, and enforcement of possible law changes. There are plenty of questions about banning flavours and branding, so if you’ve got an opinion, make it known. It won’t take long to fill out, and it’s open to all UK residents—not just citizens.
Help Protect Vaping!
The UK government is running an open consultation via the Department of Health & Social Care where members of the public can make their voices heard about the upcoming changes in vape legislation. This consultation is your only chance to speak up, and it’s vital that we get as many UK vapers as possible to respond to the questionnaire.
The consultation period closes on Wednesday 6th December 2023, so you have until then to make your voice heard.
In addition, you can write to your local MP directly about the proposed changes. They represent you and your voice in parliament, and if enough people contact them, it’s their duty to stand up on your behalf.
Find your MP and send them a letter or email to make your voice heard.
What does the consultation cover?
- Banning or Restricting Flavours – The first point in the questionnaire is about banning or restricting vape flavours due to their “youth appeal.” Despite knowing that non-tobacco flavours are a key factor in whether smokers can successfully quit, the government is threatening to ban all flavours except tobacco and menthol. We know that flavours have been around for over a decade and that the youth vaping problem is linked to easy access to disposables, not flavours.
- Point of Sale Displays – The next point could spell disaster for brick-and-mortar vape shops, though online retailers like us likely wouldn’t be affected. The government wants to regulate where vapes can be displayed and wants to keep them locked away. Keeping them on the shelf beside the cigarettes and rolling tobacco will only further the myth that vaping is as bad as smoking.
- Plain Packaging – The government wants to introduce plain packaging on vaping products, just like cigarettes. If they opt for the “cancer brown” colour of cigarette packaging, this will again only further the myth that vaping is as harmful as smoking. Furthermore, while we agree that cartoons have no place on vape packaging, this is an extreme step that may prevent more smokers from making the switch.
- Banning Disposable Vapes – This one is huge. Disposables are the most convenient option for smokers, and they’re responsible for the recent meteoric rise in vaping while smoking rates have declined. The government’s issue isn’t the e-waste (3 of the UK’s largest waste management companies have already presented solutions)—it’s the kids. And while youth vaping is definitely an issue, there’s already a huge black market of illicit disposable vapes in the UK, and a ban would only fuel this market—just like in Australia. How can the UK government expect to enforce this law if they’re already failing to enforce the current legislation?
- Non-Nicotine Vape Regulation – Currently, nicotine-free vape products, like shortfills and 0mg disposables, exist in a sort of regulatory limbo. Because they’re nicotine-free, they can still technically be sold to under-18s (though responsible retailers like us won’t sell to anyone under 18). The government is proposing that these products be regulated in the same way as nicotine-containing vape products, with stricter quality standards and age requirements. We absolutely support this measure.
- Taxing Vapes – Disposable vapes are accessible to minors because they only cost about £5. The government wants to tax vapes to make them less affordable to under-18s, but if vapes cost just as much as cigarettes, it’ll prevent more smokers from switching. The relative cost of vaping is a huge motivator for smokers, as we found in our survey. Instead, if disposables had at least 10ml of E-Liquid (as opposed to the current 2ml limit), it would raise the price without lowering the value. This would price out under-18s, since disposables would cost more than they’d have in pocket money. Plus, there’d be less waste, reducing the impact on the environment.
Summary
Vaping is under threat. It’s clear that UK vapers are frustrated by the ongoing debates about vaping in the UK government which are excluding the voices of those most affected: legitimate vapers. Judging by the responses in our survey, many are outraged at the notion of losing their freedom of choice, and many lament the thought that they may lose the only tool that has helped them stay off of cigarettes.
But this is your chance to say something. Speak up. Make your voice heard.
Respond to the open consultation. Write to your MP. Join the Back Vaping campaign.
We need your help to save vaping from those who want to limit your access. And judging by your comments in our survey, you’re just as outraged as we are.
It’s time to do something about it.
