UK Convenience Store Association Calls for "Enforcement-first" Approach to E-cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.06.2023
UK Convenience Store Association Calls for "Enforcement-first" Approach to E-cigarettes
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has urged the UK government to prioritize enforcement in regulating e-cigarettes.

On December 5th, according to the UK retail website Talkingretail, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called for a "law enforcement-first" approach to regulate e-cigarettes in government consultations. This means providing more funding to consumer watchdog organizations, such as the Office of Fair Trading, and avoiding the implementation of policies that are difficult to enforce.

 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has clearly stated that they do not support the ban on disposable e-cigarettes as it would immediately lead to a surge in the illegal market and be difficult to prevent those already engaged in illicit transactions.

 

Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society is urging the government to significantly increase and promote investment in education on recyclable devices to prevent "disposable" e-cigarettes from being discarded. They also clearly support strict regulations on tobacco flavor descriptions and packaging.

 

Products targeting children should be banned," said ACS, but it is important to preserve a range of flavors for adult consumers to help smokers transition from cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

 

James Lowman, the CEO of ACS, stated that the future discussion surrounding e-cigarettes should strive for a compliant, sustainable, and responsible market that aids smokers in quitting but restricts convenient access for young individuals.

 

Roman further commented, "A direct ban on disposable e-cigarettes may be too extreme and could fuel dangerous illicit trade, therefore, we must ensure that the recycling, flavor, and age verification policies for e-cigarettes are addressed.

 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has expressed concerns regarding the government's plan to implement an annual increase in the ban on the sale of "intergenerational" tobacco products. These concerns include:

 

The potential growth of illicit tobacco trade that follows. The need for effective government communication on bans imposed on retailers and related age verification policies. Individuals attempting to purchase tobacco products face discriminatory risks from store clerks when asked to provide age verification.

 

Loman stated, "The government has openly disclosed its intention to forcefully impose a ban on "intergenerational" tobacco, but beforehand, they must consider all the impacts and risks to ensure that retailers and frontline colleagues who will implement such a ban are adequately equipped.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Maine Approves Vape Stewardship Bill Requiring Producers to Manage End-of-Life Devices
Maine Approves Vape Stewardship Bill Requiring Producers to Manage End-of-Life Devices
The Maine Legislature has passed LD 1519, a bill that would establish a producer-funded stewardship program for electronic smoking devices, requiring manufacturers and importers to manage the collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of end-of-life products, particularly disposable vapes containing lithium-ion batteries.
Jun.12
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez is co-leading a coalition of 19 states and jurisdictions urging the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 to end sponsorships involving tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouch brands such as Zyn and Velo.
News
Jun.09
France Vape Market 2026: Use Reaches 7.9% Amid Tax, Regulatory and Scientific Debate
France Vape Market 2026: Use Reaches 7.9% Amid Tax, Regulatory and Scientific Debate
France remains one of Europe’s active vape markets in 2026, with adult vaping prevalence rising to 7.9%; at the same time, e-liquid taxation, public-space restrictions, advertising compliance and health-risk debate are pushing the industry into a critical policy period.
Jun.23
VEEV Arrives in South Korea, Completing PMI’s IQOS-ZYN-VEEV Portfolio
VEEV Arrives in South Korea, Completing PMI’s IQOS-ZYN-VEEV Portfolio
Philip Morris Korea has officially launched its VEEV e-vapor brand in South Korea, introducing both the VEEV inPRIME device and VEEBI inPRIME pods. The launch further expands PMI’s smoke-free portfolio in Korea, alongside its IQOS heated tobacco products and ZYN nicotine pouches.
Jun.16
Data|China’s January-May Vape Exports: U.S. Shipments Fall 13.8% as Japan Posts Fastest Growth
Data|China’s January-May Vape Exports: U.S. Shipments Fall 13.8% as Japan Posts Fastest Growth
According to China Customs export data analyzed by 2Firsts, the United States remained China’s largest destination for vape-related exports during January-May 2026 despite a 13.82% year-on-year decline in export value. Meanwhile, exports to Japan, Russia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates recorded strong growth, highlighting continued diversification across China’s export markets.
Special Report
Jun.29
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
Charlie’s Plans Q3 2026 Pilot of America’s First Age-Gated Flavored Disposable Vape
U.S. vape company Charlie’s Holdings announced plans to pilot its age-gated flavored disposable vape products in hundreds of retail stores during the third quarter of 2026. The company said the products will utilize AI- and blockchain-powered age-verification technology designed to address FDA concerns over youth access and potentially create a new compliance pathway for flavored vape products.
Jun.15