ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a new campaign aimed at cracking down on rogue vape sales and supporting responsible retailers.

As part of the campaign, ACS has published new Challenge25 materials specific to vaping to help responsible retailers when serving customers. Challenging customers who look underage is one of the biggest triggers of abuse (ACS Crime Report 2023), so signposting retailers’ responsibilities can be an effective way of reducing the risk of confrontation. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has echoed concerns raised by the Co-op about the levels of retail crime over the past year and the impact that this has on local shops and the communities that they serve.

New data published today (27th July) from the Co-op has seen crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour jump 35% year-on-year, with more than 175,000 incidents recorded in the first six months of this year – almost 1,000 incidents every day.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a new consultation from energy regulator Ofgem, setting out a series of proposals to make the non-domestic energy market fairer, and for protections to be available to a wider range of businesses.

Allwyn, incoming licensee for the Fourth National Lottery Licence, has set out some next steps for National Lottery retailers ahead of the changeover on 1 February 2024.

With site surveys – where all retailers are being visited for future equipment upgrades – progressing smoothly, Allwyn will be contacting National Lottery retailers to tell them how they can electronically transfer their existing Retailer Agreement from Camelot to Allwyn, ready for the start of the new licence.

The Local Government Association has called for a ban on disposable vapes by 2024. I wanted to reflect on why this group positing this sort of “solution” is a clickbait contribution to the debate on vaping.