The eight-week consultation launched on 12^th October and featured proposals to make it illegal for anyone born on or after 1^st January 2009 to ever be sold tobacco products at any point in their lives.

It also includes a series of proposals to clamp down on the sale and use of vapes by children and young people including restrictions on flavours, display, packaging and disposable vapes.

Comments in response to the public consultation were welcomed from anyone of any age.

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) said that while it backs the government’s proposals to tighten up on vape sales to young people, it warned against an outright ban on disposable vapes.

The Fed’s National President Muntazir Dipoti said: “While we agree with plans to prevent children and young people being attracted to vapes, this must not be at the expense of adults who have switched to these products in a bid to give up smoking.

“We also want more clarity on what any ‘restrictions’ on disposable vapes would entail. An outright ban on these products would simply create a black market and fuel illicit sales by criminals and unscrupulous traders.

“Vapes help many people give up smoking and are part of life now. I am confident the existing black market will become even more active,” he added.

The government of New Zealand recently scrapped a similar policy, which would have meant children aged 14 and under in the country would never be able to legally buy cigarettes. The country’s new prime minister, Chris Luxon had argued against the ban, saying it would only force people to buy tobacco illegally.

These concerns are also forming the response to the proposed UK ban, with new figures from HMRC estimating that since 2018, £9.3 billion in tax revenue has been lost due to illegal tobacco.

Leading international tobacco and vaping company, JTI is calling on all retailers here to respond to the consultation, stating that a phased generational ban is “deeply impractical and unworkable”.

“It will reach a point where you and your staff will be expected to distinguish between 36-year-olds and 37-year-olds when deciding to whom to sell tobacco products,” said a spokesperson for JTI.

“Just as retailers are working to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic and support their communities through the cost-of-living crisis, the burden of implementing a generational ban will fall almost entirely on the shoulders of retailers, just as it threatens to criminalise them for selling tobacco products to adults.

“The additional pressure this unworkable proposal would put upon a sector already characterised by long hours, and weekend and holiday working, as well as blighted by high and rising levels of abuse and theft, is a slap in the face for these small- and medium-sized businesses which operate at the very heart of their local communities.”

Echoing these sentiments, a spokesperson for ELFBAR said the company would be making their views on licensing known to the government.

“We believe that the governments across the UK should move forward with introducing a full licensing regime for vaping – and that crafting a framework akin to the one for alcohol is the right course of action,” said the spokesperson.

“We also believe that the introduction of such a regime would help reduce the potential of children getting access to vapes and make it easier for the authorities to better police the sale of vaping products.

“Furthermore, we believe that it would have benefits in tackling the growing illicit vape market and help with the driving increased rates of vape recycling.”

Retailers are listed as one of the groups from whom the government wants to hear in the consultation before Wednesday 6^th December, visit https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/65201ed1f3410a69990d3081

The post Consultation on generational smoking ban set to conclude first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The move comes ahead of the government consultation on new laws for vapes and tobacco, which concludes on 6^th December.

A spokesperson for ELFBAR said the company had been “reviewing and continue to review our flavour descriptors”.

“As such, we are renaming and phasing out some flavours from our products. This is a continuation of our efforts to limit their appeal to children, while being mindful that flavours play a critical role for adult smokers and ex-smokers on their journey to quit smoking,” said the spokesperson.

“We are also planning to apply this flavour description review to LOST MARY and will provide updates accordingly.”

The Generational Smoking Ban proposal has been open for consultation since mid-October and the consultation period ends on Wednesday 6^th December. The proposed legislation would make it illegal for anyone born on or after 1^st January 2009 to ever be sold tobacco products at any point in their lives. The consultation also includes a series of proposals to clamp down on the sale and use of vapes by children and young people including restrictions on flavours, display, packaging and disposable vapes.

VAPE ENFORCEMENT

Ahead of the consultation period ending, the ELFBAR spokesperson added: “We believe that the governments across the UK should move forward with introducing a full licensing regime for vaping – and that crafting a framework akin to the one for alcohol is the right course of action.

“It is not acceptable that vapes are sold widely in premises that have little or no experience of selling age restricted products. Vapes are a smoking cessation tool for use by smokers and ex-smokers.

“We also believe that the introduction of such a regime would help reduce the potential of children getting access to vapes and make it easier for the authorities to better police the sale of vaping products. Furthermore, we believe that it would have benefits in tackling the growing illicit vape market and help with driving increased rates of vape recycling.

“Such a move has the overwhelming support of the public, with research conducted last month showing 83% of the adult UK population endorsing such an approach. It also has the support of key agencies, including those responsible for current vape enforcement.”

They added they would be making their views on licensing known to the government in their consultation submission, and would call for a “significant increase in the sanctions” for those found selling to children.

“We are determined to play a full role in addressing recent concerns around vaping and stand ready to work with national and local governments to bring about a tightened and strengthened regime for the sale of vaping products.”

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