BAT UK has called for harsher punishment for retailers found to be selling vapes to children.
The vape manufacturer polled 6,000 members of the public, with almost two-thirds of respondents feeling that the proposed £200 fine for underage sales was too low. Nearly one-third (30%) called for fines of up to £1,000.
The research reported support for the creation of a licensing scheme to sell vapes, with 67% of respondents in favour of retailers losing their licence permanently if they are caught breaching it three times. The poll found that 1% are content to wait longer than two years for the scheme to be introduced, with a majority (52%) of the public wanting the licence brought in within the next three months.
BAT UK had previously called for tighter regulation of the UK vape market including the introduction of a retail license scheme. Although added to the government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, there is no confirmation when this scheme will be brought into force and what the punishments will be for those retailers who repeatedly breach their licence.
Head of BAT UK & Western Europe Asli Ertonguc said: “The results speak for themselves. The public clearly do not feel the punishments in the current proposals are tough enough to protect the underage. We need to have an open conversation about appropriate regulation and enforcement while keeping vapes as a vital tool for adults to help the UK reach its smoke-free 2030 goal.
“A retail licensing system is a step in the right direction. However, without increased fines and stricter punishments, unethical retailers will simply continue to break the law. For a vape license to be effective, retailers must know that if they abuse it, they lose it.
“With the Tobacco and Vapes Bill still progressing through Parliament, the Government must act fast. The new laws clearly need tougher sanctions to give it the teeth to punish those who sell to children or stock illegal vapes. Without such enforcement, the Bill will fail to achieve its desired impact.”
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