ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Scottish Government to consider the impact of its proposed disposable vaping ban on the illicit market.
The Scottish Government has today published regulations and a short two week consultation on plans to ban disposable vapes by April 2025.
New consumer polling, commissioned by ACS, suggests that the ban will result in a huge uplift in the illicit vaping market, with 24% of existing adult disposable vape users in the UK seeking to source products from the illicit market.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The Scottish Government should not rush to implement the disposable vapes ban without proper consultation with industry and a clear understanding of the impact the illicit vaping market that already accounts for one third of the overall UK vaping market. The lack of a published impact assessment reveals the scant consideration of how vapers will respond to this change in the law, and how it will swell the already huge market in illicit vapes.
“We need a clear plan in place for communicating this policy change to consumers without undermining smoke free targets, as our research also suggests that 8% of disposable vape users will return to tobacco products when the ban is introduced.”
Retailers that sell single use vapes would be subject to conviction or a level five fine. The full regulations are available here and subject to consultation until 8th March 2024.
The UK Government is expected to publish details of its own proposals to ban disposable vapes in the coming days.
