To say we’ve been lucky concerning the state of the vape laws on this little old island is an understatement, but UK vaping needs you as a vaper to step up now!
I said we’ve been lucky, what I meant to say is we are only where we’re at compared to other parts of the world thanks to the strong UK consumer and industry advocacy groups.
Most of you probably aren’t aware just how close we came during the build up to the original TPD laws of losing that smart high powered mod you’re using!
That was down to the New Nicotine Alliance lobbying and fighting on our behalf inside the European Union – because trust me, they wanted them banned!
And as you’ve probably read, the anti-vaping EU is currently on a crusade to ban or at least tighten up the laws on all things vape…it never seems to stop!
OK, so what’s the call to action for UK vapers and why should you step up and give a few minutes of your time?
There’s actually two, and both are extremely important if, like me, you want to see vaping continue to succeed here in the UK.
Getting involved in both or just one will take a few moments and YOU can help shape the future of vaping here in the UK.
And what happens here – could shape other countries too – time to actually step up and be part of the so called #vapefam 😉
Petition To Give Vape Shops Essential Status
UK vape giant VPZ has launched a petition calling vapers to convince the UK Government bricks and mortar vape shops should be classed as essential.
Under the current, and any future, lockdowns, vape shops are not considered essential, meaning those smaller ones without a website are quite literally dying a death.
Many are able to survive – just – with click and collect and delivery options – but that is not sustainable….in Scotland for instance, click and collect is banned!
Not only that smokers looking to quit via vaping are not getting the hands on advice they desperately need. Add to that some sources suggesting vapers are returning to smoking, and you can see the knock on effect.
The UK Government supports vaping – so a nudge from hundreds of thousands of vapers and smokers to remind them this industry IS essential for the health and wealth of the nation might just work.
Doug Mutter, director of VPZ said:
We are not underestimating the impact of Covid-19 on our community, nor are we asking for a return to normal.
Click & collect services, appointment-only operations, or only one customer in the store at a time – there are a number of safe and appropriate solutions to help vapers, but we aren’t seeing sufficient movement towards any action.
The lockdown has created an environment where smoking has been allowed to grow considerably and whilst this was inadvertent in the beginning, we can no longer simply ignore the evidence in front of us.
Vape stores being closed, having no stop-smoking services and cigarette availability has never been higher.
Vapers are fast becoming the forgotten three million in the UK…
That last sentence really should chill you to the bone…if we do become an afterthought then the new UK vape laws could very easily become far more strict….and that’s the last thing we want.
The more that speak up the less chance the government has of ignoring us and the industry.
The petition needs 10,000 before the UK Government is duty bound to respond – and 100,000 to discuss it in parliament – which is the ideal result – so add you name NOW!
Trust me, it takes a few seconds and could save hundreds of bricks and mortar vape shops currently struggling.
Sign the petition: Consider urgent action to grant specialist vape retailers essential status
UK Government Open Consultation On Vaping
The New Nicotine Alliance says this is a once in a lifetime chance for vapers to really shape any future vaping legislation here in the UK.
And I can’t stress just how big an opportunity this really is!
Now we are unleashed from EU legislation, the old TPD no longer applies on these shores.
At the moment were in a kind of holding pattern, with the rules still applying but new ones about to be written.
I’ve covered this in more detail in a recent Vape News: Post TPD Vape Laws Discussed In UK Parliament
The UK Government is currently looking at a complete rewrite of the current laws – the The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 [TRPR].
Its now open to YOU the vaper – vaping industry insider or an interested party, to tell the Government exactly what you want to see in the new vaping legislation.
The NNA says:
[we]…urge you to respond to the UK government’s open consultation for the review of the legislation which applies to vaping products.
Brexit gives us an opportunity to diverge from the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and it is crucial that we consumers tell the government what changes we want.
We have lived with the consequences of the TPD, no one knows better than us!
This is an easy and quick consultation to do, as there are only 6 questions which relate to safer nicotine products.
To get involved – and I really hope you see the very real need to take part – checkout the link below:
PLEASE get involved, and let’s get the UK Government acting on our behalf for a change 😉
Remember…there’s way over 3 million UK vapers and just a handful of politicians in comparison…make your vaping voice heard NOW!
I have signed everything and filed everything in that needs it, in support of the NNA and the WVA to help save us from the idiots and to save our vaping rights. I hope every one else who vapes or wants to give up smoking will do the same. WE NEED YOU!!!!
Thanks so much Deby – much appreciated 🙂 and as the lady says – please sign!