Vapes retailer rolls out guide to spot illicit vapes
DOUBTS over the effectiveness of the incoming disposable vapes ban have been abound across the industry as of late.
While the general consensus has been that action was needed to curb the rising tide of youth vapers as well as the impact the devices have had on the environment, there has been a growing concern of the potential negative impact this ban could go on to have.
Industry bodies, such as the Scottish Grocers’ Federation, have noted the ban could reduce the availability of cessation tools for smokers who are looking to cut out tobacco from their lives, turning to vape devices as a result.
Along with this, there is a greater question over the financial costs this ban with have. In a UK-wide impact statement from the UK Government, the incoming ban could cost see retailers massively out of pocket, with estimated figures stating this could be as high as £1billion lost in the sector every year.
Lump this in with the further Generational Tobacco ban set to be introduced in the UK which Westminster also found would cost around £18.6billion with this number coming exclusively from the loss of revenue from tobacco products with further expenses still to be included, such as the cost to HMRC.
The financial void is clear for all to see from these issues and, with little solutions coming from the government to help plug this up, it could be likely that the illicit trade could move in and offer the products that are clearly in high demand from consumers.
The Association of Convenience Stores found that those illegal traders could stand to make £645million as a result of the disposable vape ban.
Not only would this see retailers massively out of pocket after 1 April 2025, but it means dangerous and unregulated devices will soon be finding their way into the hands of the general public.
A recent study by the BBC has found that these illegal disposable devices can contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium, all of which are incredibly toxic to the human body that can cause blood clotting, with high levels of lead exposure seriously affecting the central nervous system as well as brain functions.
With the ban now presenting a gap in the market for the illegal trade to fill, ensuring disposable vape devices follow the restrictions set in UK law is now more important than ever.
And it’s with this in mind that vape retailer Evapo has set out to ensure consumers do not fall for the counterfeit market, with advice to help make sure their disposable devices are safe and legal.
Not only has the retail site published all of the major disposable vape brand verification sites on its own website, but has also rolled out a new campaign highlighting the additional ways in which consumers can check their vape is legit.
Made up of nine bullet points, Evapo offers consumers a secure checklist to follow so they can be reassured the device is not dangerous. These include:
• Check the packaging: All legitimate vapes will come in factory-sealed packaging, if this is missing then it’s likely to be fake.
• Check the printing quality: Look closely at the printing and check if there are any misspellings, low-resolution images or uneven printing.
• Nicotine warning: All vape products containing nicotine will have a warning label, if this is missing then the product is likely non-compliant.
• High nicotine strength: The highest nicotine strength allowed in the UK is 20mg/ml. If the product is advertised as having a higher strength than this, the product will be fake.
• Retailer reputation: Only buy vapes from reputable retailers. Check reviews and speak to others who have bought from there.
• Price discrepancy: If the price is too good to be true then it probably is too good to be true. Authentic vapes are usually within a certain price range, anything lower is likely to be counterfeit.
• Authentic sticker: If a vape is missing an authentication sticker then it could counterfeit. Many reputable vape brand include serial numbers or authenticity codes on their products for verification. Check online if your brand of disposable vape includes this on their packaging or not. If they don’t, refer to the other bullet points to verify the authenticity.
• Build quality: Authentic vapes are typically well-built with attention to detail. Look for any signs of poor craftsmanship, such as loose parts, rough edges or cheap materials.
• Poor performance: Fake vapes may not perform as well as genuine ones do. If you notice any issues with vapour production, flavour quality or battery life, it could be a sign that the product is fake.
Andrej Kuttruf, chief executive and founder of Evapo, said: “The availability of verification pages is a positive step towards ensuring consumer safety in the vaping industry.
“With the rise in illicit vapes containing harmful substances, it’s essential for consumers to have access to tools that enable them to verify the authenticity of their products.”
