More than 230 unbiased vape outlets opened throughout the UK final yr, new figures have revealed.
It represents a pointy enhance from the 61 new shops which opened in 2022, and a web fall of 23 in 2021, in accordance with a survey of retail areas by the Local Data Company (LDC).
The rise comes amid authorities plans for brand new restrictions on vaping as a consequence of considerations concerning the influence of the gadgets on youngsters and the setting.
The LDC stated 233 unbiased vape retailers opened in 2023, bringing the full throughout the UK to three,573.
The figures relate to specialist shops solely and don’t embrace nook outlets, Post Office branches, newsagents and different retailers that inventory vaping gadgets and equipment.
It comes amid a increase in vaping merchandise within the UK, with development in worth gross sales of £897m in 2023, in accordance with market researcher NIQ and commerce journal The Grocer.
But there are considerations concerning the influence of disposable vapes on the setting, together with worries about their use amongst younger folks, regardless of a ban on gross sales to under-18s.
Read extra from enterprise:
BT chief Jansen approached about WPP chairmanship
‘Best job on the planet’ attracts 1000’s of candidates
House costs predicted to flatline or fall additional in 2024
The variety of youngsters utilizing vapes up to now three years has tripled, in accordance with Action on Smoking and Health. The charity estimates one in 5 of these aged between 11 and 17 have tried vaping.
Last yr, the federal government unveiled plans to introduce tighter restrictions on smoking and vaping, with a session at the moment ongoing into proposals to probably ban disposable vapes.
Other plans into consideration embrace value rises and proscribing the flavours and look of such merchandise to make them much less engaging to youngsters.
But the vaping business argues that their merchandise play a vital position in serving to folks to give up smoking.
UK Vaping Industry Association director common John Dunne stated: “The independent specialist vape shop in the UK plays an important role in advising smokers how best to make the switch to vapes, and ultimately how to continue their journey to zero nicotine.
“Vapes are confirmed to be the simplest approach for people who smoke to stop, serving to round 50,000 extra people who smoke beat their behavior yearly and an increase within the variety of specialist vape outlets displays a rising demand from people who smoke desirous to stop a behavior that kills over 200 folks daily within the UK alone.”
Source: information.sky.com”