Retailers in planning mode for incoming disposable vapes ban
Ahead of the incoming ban on the sale of disposable vapes, Northern Ireland retailers have voiced their concerns that the ban will only encourage people towards buying vapes from illicit sources.
While there are obvious business impacts to grocery retailers across Northern Ireland, there are also valid concerns that the ban will simply allow for a rise in black market sales.
In a special feature in the latest issue of NR, grocery retailers in Northern Ireland have spoken out on how they are preparing their stocks, staff and customers for the ban – set to come into force on 1st June 2025 – outlining the steps they are already taking in a bid to minimise impact on their stores next summer.
This comes as the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has revealed a survey of its members shows more than nine in 10 independent retailers have said the government’s proposed generational smoking ban and ban on disposable vapes will fuel demand for illicit products even further.
78% of respondents said more of their customers than ever were buying illicit tobacco and vapes from other sources, while just over half (55%) were aware of specific places near their shops where illegal products were on sale.
Almost 400 retailers took part in the survey, which ran over 10 days in November, to help the Fed better understand the impact that sales of illicit tobacco have on members’ stores, and how the introduction of the generational smoking ban will fuel this black market.
YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY IN THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE
