The Rise of E-Cigarette Shops in Russia

Jan.28.2023
The Rise of E-Cigarette Shops in Russia
Russia has over 5,000 e-cigarette shops, with Moscow alone having over 1,100, and the number is set to increase by at least 20% in 2022.

According to data from 2GIS and Kommersant, by the end of 2021, there are over 5,000 stores in Russia selling electronic cigarettes, with over 1,100 in Moscow alone. According to DNA Realty, a real estate platform, the number of Russian cigarette shops will increase by at least 20% in 2022.


Anton Belikh, CEO of DNA Realty, stated that these stores mainly profit from e-cigarettes rather than traditional tobacco cigarettes, and many stores only sell e-cigarettes.


Recently, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, launched a public opinion survey on e-cigarette regulation in Russia on Telegram, with participation from 55,000 users. Around 70% of respondents supported a complete ban on e-cigarettes, while over 25% advocated for strict punishment for sales to minors.


Anton Belikh commented, "According to our estimates, if e-cigarettes are completely banned, at least half of existing tobacco shops will be forced to close, and another 20-30% will either need to optimize their floor space or require significant rent reductions from their landlords.


Reference:


The Speaker of the Russian State Duma conducts a poll indicating that 70% of participants are in favor of a comprehensive ban on electronic cigarettes.


Tobacco shops will not survive the ban on vapes.



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