Revealed: how much disposable vapes ban could cost your store

The government’s newly revealed crackdown on vaping puts tens of thousands of pounds in annual rev­enue at risk for the average local shop. The plans include a total ban on disposable vapes. The new rules will likely come into force in late 2024 or early 2025. Alongside the disposable vapes ban they restrict flavours, packaging and displays in stores affecting all other seg­ments of vaping.

Announcing the plans last week, prime minister Rishi Sunak said it was right that “strong action” was taken to stamp out vaping among children. The new legislation also includes banning the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s.

Lost sales

Sales figures from thousands of local stores provided to Better Retailing by Retail Data Partnership show the potential cost of the legislation. The average independent store stands to lose £35,904 in annual revenue and £15,978 in annual profit from dis­posable vapes alone.

Independent retailers re­vealed to Better Retailing that the ban accounts for as much as 20% of their overall profits. Data from PayPoint warned of yearly sales losses of £5.2m across its partnered stores.

Devastating

Vince Malone, owner of Tenby Stores & Post Office in Pembrokeshire, said single-use disposables made up £104,000 of his annual turnover, repre­senting 12%. He revealed that equates to £47,000 in profit per year. “We sell 400 vapes a week. This will be devas­tating for us,” he said.

Vape brand IVG released a statement claiming shoppers would “continue to buy disposables as long as they are available”. They told store owners it was “business as usual” until any legislation was written.

The government told Better Retailing there would be “at least’’ six months from when the law is passed for stores to sell through their stock. After then it would be illegal to sell any remaining stock.

For a full analysis of what the new government legislation means, how it will affect your vape range and how you should prepare, read the 2 February edition of RN.

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