Large numbers of older people use Flavors and Disposable Vapes, accounting for around 43% of the UK market, according to the latest industry data collected by online e-cigarette retailers. The products are currently the focus of a government consultation on youth vaping, which is due to end on 6 December.
The industry warns that any measures to ban Flavors and single-use vapes, which have played a key role in reducing smoking rates to record lows in the U.K. over the past two years, would have catastrophic effects on public health. It would effectively eliminate the possibility of creating a smoke-free generation shortly.
Data from the last quarter sales of four leading online retailers, representing almost a quarter of the U.K. market, revealed the following:
“Fruit” Flavors were the most popular among middle-aged adults (35-44 years old)
The over-55 age group had the highest proportion of tobacco flavor usage
Menthol and tobacco Flavors were significantly less popular among middle-aged adults
The average age of adult disposable vape users is 39
These latest figures are supported by a survey conducted by One Poll earlier this year, which showed that 83 percent of vapers believed flavors helped them quit smoking. One in three vapers stated that a ban on flavors would lead them to return to conventional cigarettes, potentially representing around 1.5 million former smokers.
“The statistics demonstrate what those in the industry already know – that the flavors and single-use vapes currently under scrutiny by the government for youth vaping are a lifeline for former adult smokers,” said Dan Marchant, co-owner of online retailer Vape Club, which contributed to the sales data.
“The legitimate vaping industry fully recognizes the need to address youth vaping, but this shouldn’t involve wholesale bans that will impact adults who depend on these products. Retailers are already prohibited from selling vapes to individuals under 18 years old, so the industry is calling for stricter enforcement of existing laws, including on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 ($12,631) per offense and the introduction of a retail licensing scheme to target illicit traders.”
“Why should 4.5 million adults, who have spent years trying to quit a habit that kills 250 people a day, be at risk of losing their lifeline?” asked John Dunne, Director General of UKVIA.
Banning Flavors would have catastrophic effects
“If the government chooses to ban single-use vapes and/or flavors, a return to smoking among current vapers will become highly likely. This would have catastrophic consequences for public health and would undermine the government’s ambition for a smoke-free country. The only beneficiaries of potential bans on the vaping industry would be the tobacco industry and illicit markets, something that no rational person wants to see.”
