The next stage for the Bill will be a debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday 23^rd April.

Meanwhile, retailers are being encouraged to sign an open letter telling government that the Bill is likely to drive more customers to illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.

The letter, addressed to Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, expresses dismay at the Bill which will have a direct impact on thousands of retailers across the UK, with the Bill putting businesses at risk and endangering retailers’ livelihoods.

“We understand the government wanting to stop smoking in the UK, but there doesn’t seem to be any guarantee this Bill will do that,” reads the letter.

“There is little doubt that this Bill will just drive even more smokers to seek out easily available, cheap cigarettes and vapes. The criminals smuggling and selling these products are already taking legitimate sales away from responsible retailers.

“Some estimates say that 25% of cigarettes in the UK are illicit – and we all know how illegal vapes have also flooded the UK in recent years. As it stands, local enforcement is already inadequate – responsible retailers have little recourse.”

The letter goes onto stress that violence and abuse directed at convenience store workers are at an all-time high.

“Keeping customers and staff safe is the number one priority of any responsible retailer – and most of us are responsible,” it adds.

Asking the Secretary of State to listen to retailers, the letter adds thousands of them are facing “real economic hardship, possibly even collapse, off the back of a Bill that will likely fail in its objective”.

“As it stands, the Bill only promises to push the convenience retail sector towards the brink and put its staff in the firing line. The only people who stand to benefit are the criminals who are already flooding our communities with dangerous products,” it concludes.

Retailers are encouraged to sign the letter at Protect Your Store | An Open Letter to The Secretary of State

NI Assembly members voted in support of the region’s inclusion in the Tobacco & Vapes Bill in February this year, following a plenary debate on the Legislative Consent Motion on the Bill.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the Bill was a landmark step providing an opportunity to reduce preventable deaths and health inequalities across NI.

However, the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association said the generational ban “lacks common sense” while also completely disregarding the unintended consequences, and the UKVIA added that while it supports the need to tackle youth sales, it was necessary not to ignore those adult smokers who turn to vapes in a bid to stop smoking.

The post Tobacco & Vapes Bill passes through House of Commons first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Results from a survey of 1,000 retailers conducted on behalf of JTI* has found that 63% of retailers would prefer raising the minimum legal age of purchase for tobacco to 21, rather than a generational smoking ban.

Retailers revealed several concerns about a proposed generational smoking ban, with 78% feeling that it would lead to more illicit tobacco in their local area. With 30% of cigarettes and 54% of hand rolling tobacco in the UK already coming from illegal and other non-duty paid sourcesⁱ, this is a problem that the government needs to clamp down on and not exacerbate.

The survey found that eight out of 10 retailers (78%) believe the government’s budget would be better spent tackling illegal tobacco rather than on implementing a generational smoking ban, suggesting a disconnect between government priorities and those of retailers. An additional survey of JTI360 users also showed that 70% of retailers do not think enough is currently being done to tackle illicit tobacco in their area**.

With age verification one of the top reasons for violence against retailersⁱⁱ, understandably, retail crime was also a concern to those surveyed. Violence against retailers continues to rise at an alarming rate, almost doubling year-on-year with 76,000 incidents in 2024 vs 41,000 in 2023ⁱⁱⁱ. Nearly two thirds (62%) of respondents* suggested that the proposed generational smoking ban would lead to further increase of threatening behaviour towards retailers.

Sarah Connor, Communications Director at JTI UK said: “This survey clearly identifies the concerns of the retail community regarding a potential generational smoking ban.

“At a time when convenience stores across the country are facing unprecedented levels of theft, violence and abuse, we urge the Labour Government to consider the views of retailers before implementing any new legislation. Retailers can share their concerns around the Tobacco and Vapes Bill by writing to scrutiny@parliament.uk before 7^th January.

“JTI and many retailers we have spoken to are calling for an increase in the minimum age of purchase to 21 as a viable alternative to a generational smoking ban. In recent years we’ve seen sales of illicit tobacco continue to rise at an alarming rate. Whilst we welcome the proposed granting of new powers for Trading Standards, additional funding is still required so that they have the resources required to combat the ever-growing illicit tobacco trade.”

*Research conducted with 1,000 independent and symbol convenience retailers in September 2024 by Acorn Retail Promotions on behalf of JTI UK  

** Survey of 1458 retailers via the JTI360 Tobacco Trade site – August/September 2024.  

The post Most retailers want minimum legal age of tobacco purchase at 21 rather than a generational smoking ban first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

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 1^st 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

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