Have your voice heard on vapes, says SGF
THE Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) is calling on retailers across Scotland to make their voices heard by contributing to the current consultation on vaping products.
The 12-week UK-wide consultation is seeking out views and opinions on how vaping products are packaged and displayed across stores, potentially restricting both devices and pods on how they appear across stores.
Running until 2 October, the new consultation comes as part of the new Tobacco and Vapes Act and will apply to stores across the whole of the UK as the proposals have been developed alongside the devolved governments across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The SGF has reiterated the firm’s stance on moves to reduce vaping levels among young people, but has called on government officials to ensure the rules don’t restrict adult cigarette smokers who wish to change over to vapes or that any ban has unintended consequences for illicit traders.
With this in mind, the industry body has called on retailers to have their opinions heard as part of this consultation by completing the government consultation online via this link.
Luke McGarty, head of policy and public affairs at the SGF, said: “It’s vital that convenience store owners and operators make their views known about the impact that these proposals could have on their businesses. Their voices are incredibly important.
“As representatives of responsible community retailers, we have long been clear that vapes are a cessation device for smokers who want to quit and should never be marketed or sold to children.
“But we must be careful that new restrictions do not have the unintended consequence of fuelling illicit trade and retail crime. There is a very real concern that placing vaping products behind shutters will lead to exactly that, adding to the pressures that legitimate community shops face.
“We need to ensure that vaping restrictions are effective but also measured.”
