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

Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
The Trump administration is preparing changes intended to accelerate FDA market authorization reviews for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, according to The Wall Street Journal. The FDA is expected to revisit its 2021 PMTA rule and may simplify some scientific study requirements and shorten review times. The agency has not formally announced the changes. Over the past year, the FDA has already accelerated nicotine-pouch reviews, expanded ENDS authorizations and upgraded its CTP Portal NextGen application system. As of August 2026, 43 nicotine pouch products and 48 e-cigarette products had received FDA marketing authorization.
Sep.24
Product | JTI Launches Ploom AURA Teal Electric Pop in South Korea, Its First Dual-Color Edition
Product | JTI Launches Ploom AURA Teal Electric Pop in South Korea, Its First Dual-Color Edition
JTI Korea launched the Ploom AURA Teal Electric Pop limited edition in South Korea on September 1, 2026, marking the first dual-color design in the Ploom AURA range. The device combines a dark green body with teal accents and is accompanied by matching Front Panel, Back Cover and Pocket Bag accessories. The standalone device is priced at KRW 29,000, with three additional device-and-accessory bundles available. The release continues JTI Korea's use of limited colorways and interchangeable accessories to expand the Ploom AURA portfolio without introducing a new hardware platform.
Sep.03
Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Holdings said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified the company on June 23, 2026, that 30 PACHA vape SKUs with submitted PMTAs had been tentatively identified for inclusion on a planned public-facing FDA webpage. Under enforcement guidance issued by FDA in May, the webpage is intended to identify certain unauthorized products for which the agency generally does not intend to prioritize enforcement of premarket authorization requirements. Charlie’s disclosed the development alongside second-quarter revenue of $3.8 million, up 116% year over year.
Aug.25
 PMI Opens Generative AI Center in Portugal to Support Global Operations
PMI Opens Generative AI Center in Portugal to Support Global Operations
According to information released by Portugal’s Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP) in July 2026, Philip Morris International (PMI) has established a global Generative Artificial Intelligence Factory (GenAI Factory) at its Portuguese subsidiary Tabaqueira. The center will support PMI’s global operations by developing and deploying AI solutions focused on industrial process optimization, data analytics, operational automation and AI application development. The initiative strengthens Portugal’s role in PMI’s global technology and innovation network.
Aug.27
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Ireland has increased tobacco excise under Budget 2027 and announced a further rise in its E-liquid Products Tax. From Oct. 7, the tax burden on a pack of 20 cigarettes in the most popular price category increased by €1, with pro-rata increases on other tobacco products. The government plans to raise EPT from €0.50 to €0.70 per millilitre from Jan. 1, 2027, a 40% increase applying to both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids. The tobacco duty increase is expected to raise about €63.1 million in a full year.
Regulations
Oct.09
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has introduced Vuse Pro prefilled pods in Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint in selected U.S. states. Vuse’s U.S. website says the pods are intended for use with existing Vuse Alto devices. Each contains 2.0 mL of e-liquid at 5.0% nicotine by weight, uses nicotine salts and is offered in two- and four-pod packs. Reynolds said the rollout includes mandatory ID scanning for every purchase, purchase limits, stronger retailer-accountability requirements and strict age-restricted marketing standards. The four pods have not received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Sep.10