According to a report by AOL on January 8th, a study has shown that e-cigarette sales in the UK have increased ninefold over the past three years, bringing in profits for convenience stores that are four times higher than those from tobacco.
Data analyzed by the University of Edinburgh in September 2022 showed that the average profit margin for convenience stores selling e-cigarettes was 37.1%, while tobacco products were at 8.5%. During this period, the number of transactions involving e-cigarettes per week in each convenience store also increased significantly from 10 times in 2019 to 93 times in 2022, a nine-fold increase over the past three years.
Researchers have observed that sales of e-cigarettes may continue to grow in small retail outlets since 2022. Data shows that the customer traffic primarily purchasing tobacco has decreased by nearly 40% compared to nearly a decade ago.
In 2015, the "Action on Smoking and Health" (hereafter referred to as "Ash") conducted a similar analysis, finding that around 21% of transactions involved tobacco, but by 2022 this had decreased to 12.8%. Data from the UK's National Statistics Office shows that the proportion of UK adults smoking decreased from 16% in 2016 to 12% in 2023.
Research indicates that current smokers switching to e-cigarettes could potentially benefit small retailers, as the importance of tobacco sales to these businesses is gradually declining. The high profitability of e-cigarettes also highlights the necessity of establishing a retail licensing system to combat irresponsible sellers and protect legitimate retailers.
Edinburgh University Professor of Health Geography Jamie Pearce stated,
Our analysis shows that convenience stores only rely on tobacco for 10% of their profits. If customers shift to purchasing other products, the store will benefit more. In cases where business and public health interests occasionally coincide, the fewer people purchasing tobacco, the more everyone will benefit.
Hazel Cheeseman, CEO of "Ash," stated that...
The decrease in tobacco sales is beneficial for the national health and convenience stores, as profits from tobacco sales are declining. At the same time, e-cigarette sales are skyrocketing, which is more advantageous for retailers. Responsible retailers who have already profited from e-cigarettes should welcome regulations to improve the market, reduce appeal to children, and crack down on illegal vendors.
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