VPZ Predicts Vape Boom
The UK’s largest vaping firm VPZ gears up for the ban of the near 100-year-old Menthol cigarette category and predicts more smokers switching to vaping
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by Dave Cross
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The ban of menthol cigarettes comes from the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), banning all cigarettes and rolling tobacco with “characterising flavour” other than traditional tobacco.
The ban originates from a range of tobacco control measures approved by the European Parliament in 2013, with revisions including mandating the banning of menthol cigarettes by 2022. This means as of the 20th of May 2020, smokers will no longer be able to purchase menthol cigarettes anywhere within the UK and EU.
In the UK there are an estimated 1.3 million menthol cigarette smokers.
Research by the UK Vaping Industry Association, the largest trade body representing the sector, shows that menthol vape products sold by its retail and wholesale members represent an average of 16.5% of all sales and nearly double this number, at 30.75%, for manufacturers producing such products.
The data suggests that menthol cigarettes are used by up to 12.4% of smokers in England, while global sales in 2018 exceeded $80bn. Currently, some 14.4% of the adult population in England smoke and there are some 7m smokers across the UK.
Doug Mutter, Director of Manufacturing and Compliance said: “I think in normal circumstances this move could have had the potential to significantly reduce smoking rates in the UK. However, with vaping stores closed and stop smoking services shut, it remains to be seen how we can engage menthol smokers and encourage them to make the switch.”
“This is the biggest change to tobacco law since plain packing was introduce” – Doug Mutter
“For the vaping industry it presents an opportunity to help smokers finally make the switch, and whilst that will be harder with stores still closed, we believe that vaping presents the best opportunity to stamp out cigarettes for good.”
VPZ has built a digital platform for advice and guidance on smokers switching to vaping for the first time as well as how to pick the best products to help them quit.
Doug continued, “We are expecting a growth in the number of new vapers in the UK, so it was important to us to use our expert staff to help create a guide for menthol smokers looking to quit through vaping.”
“From which device best suits your needs to what strength of nicotine is required, we have tried to cover as many questions as possible. We have even put together some starter kits covering all categories to help with any first time decision as we appreciate the first step can be daunting, without the opportunity to visit one of our stores.”
“It will be difficult for many people just now because vape stores are closed and the temptation to go back to traditional cigarettes is everywhere. We are talking about over one million people in the UK will now not have their menthol cigarettes available and we hope that they are beginning to research which stop smoking products can best help them quit.”
“Our message to smokers across the country is that the best time to quit cigarettes is now.”
Related:
- VPZ Menthol Starter Kits – [link]
- VPZ Menthol Information – [link]
- UK Vaping Industry Association – [link]
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous vape companies to develop content for their websites.
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