THE FUTURE OF VAPING AND US

It should go without saying that here at ModNVape we've always been above board. We take the rules and regulations seriously; when it become illegal to advertise CBD we re-branded everything to comply. When the TPD regulations were announced we disposed of our stock that no longer complied with it. When the disposable ban came into effect we threw out thousands of pounds worth of stock because we literally were not allowed to even give them away.

When it comes to a lot of the regulations we've agreed - we supported the disposable ban - we believe it's a good idea to have TPD regulations on certain devices - but there's been some underlying concerns we've seen. The politicians, smokers and vapers alike, neglect to talk to us when making decisions that effect every person in the UK - and their proposed legislation, including the vape tax, will put us out of business.

And I'm not exaggerating that - just like smoking nowadays the costs for us, and therefore you, will go through the roof.. And then there's studies and research that go to show that banning vapes or taxing them will not actually curtail youth vaping - and will create massive openings in the black market which then open nefarious actors to peddle products again - which was the cause of things like popcorn lung to begin with! And if you think it won't happen just think of how many tobacconists you so in the high street nowdays; personally I've never seen one - but years ago there would have been much more.

How it effects you as a customer:

• The vape tax, as proposed, will increase the price of a single 10ML nicotine salt from £3.99 to £6.99. [1] In effect this will turn a "3 for £10" promotion to "3 for £20". A box of vape juice or ten of them, which we sell for £30 will become over £60.

• The vape tax, as proposed, will increase the price of a 100ML bottle of nicotine free vape juice from £16.99 to £26.99. [1] This doesn't take into account the nicotine - because these bottles contain none. That's just the flat tax on vape juice. With nicotine you're looking at spending £30 on a single bottle of vape juice.

• Vape legislation, as proposed, will limit the sale of flavoured e-liquids, restricting the available flavours to "flavourless", "tobacco" and "menthol". [1]

To put things into perspective, 80% of those who quit smoking use vaping and 65% of them attributed their success primarily to the flavours provided - so the vape legislation, as proposed, will strip the tools to quit from people who need it the most. [2]

If this price change happens the suppliers will either have to find ways around the tax increases by further inconveniencing you (by selling you three part vape juices that you have to mix yourself, increasing bottle sizes to compensate for increased costs or selling small bottles that you have to add nicotine shots to) or, ultimately only big supermarket retailers will be able to afford vape juices at "reasonable" prices which will put thousands of vape shops out of business.

As a result:

You'll have to pay more, you'll get less variety, more inconvenience, you'll have to go to a big supermarket to get your vapes whilst we all have to get new jobs. Oh - and to add to that there is evidence to support that it won't stop young vapers too! UCL studies are showing that the rise in disposable usage is actually decreasing - which puts them reliant on using clean and reliable vape shops to kick the habit; something a supermarket can't, or won't, do. [3]

This also excludes the rise of the black market that will spawn in the absence of the things we've come to enjoy. Black markets, such as "bossman shops" and market stalls who have always sold the illegal disposables or over-strength juices will continue to sell them and sell them to the younger markets. When a young kid gets addicted to vaping and they can no longer go to a NCSCT vape shop (when they're of age) for support. Their only recourse will be the waiting lists of the NHS and their smoking cessation services which are considerably less effective then support than a good vape shop provides!

We don't say this just because we'll be out of a job, but because you will lose a local vape shop and all they have to offer.

When a business becomes unprofitable it has to close down. We get no funding, bailouts or support already - we scrape by with what we've got off of what little money we make. If the bill goes through you will lose four stop-smoking trained members of the community. You will lose the gossip, the atmosphere, the environment. You will lose one-on-one tailored support, the great wealth of experience we have, the tips and tricks. You will have to rely on minimum wage supermarket workers for recommendations, tips, tricks, advice, feedback. Adhere to strict corporate policies, no favours, no help, no support. Those who want to quit will be pointed at things we would recommend - and the vaping name would get worse than it ever has as the black market takes over again until even more regulation comes into effect.

More worryingly than that but the bill itself contains 66 new regulation-making powers, 15 of which are "Henry VIII powers" which will allow the government to amend or override primary legislation without turning to parliament.

That means ministers could change how the entire industry operates - at any time - without the full legislative process, a debate or even meaningful consultation. So imagine one day you walk in to your local vape shop and suddenly you can't buy nicotine salts? We would have to dispose of thousands of pounds of stock without notice - and then they could change it back the next day! Or if they ban a certain flavour - then the next day they unban it, only to then ban the packaging of it the next. What if the government suddenly decides that re-fillable devices are to be banned? Then we wouldn't be able to buy 99% of your average vape shop's stock! [4]

So what do we propose?

We have a few core tenants we believe would make the UK a better place without compromising the jobs of thousands of people across the country. Without putting the burden on the customer, without leaving children vulnerable.

• Start by making it so only vape shops can sell vapes. No more off-licenses, bossman shops, under-the-counter deals, market stalls or e-stores where kids have access to e-cigarettes. If this requires a vape license then so be it.

• Harsher fines for those that breaks the rules. Currently the maximum on-the-spot fine is £200. For repeat offenders this can be extended to unlimited fines and prison times - but £200 isn't a punishment for doing something illegal - it's just a fee to them.

• Introduction of flavour guidelines, not flavour bans, to stop the targeting of young vapers. Less "gummy bear" more "mixed sweet fruits", less "blue ice pop" more "blueberry ice", etc.

• Include and exempt stop-smoking partners and regulate, train and promote vaping responsibly as a healthy alternative. Every shop should have NCSCT trained staff that can help you stop smoking and vaping - and should assist you if that's your goal.

• Run campaigns on reducing risks instead of fearmongering. Target those who supply non MHRA approved vapes through trading standards and target black markets that introduce banned flavourings, nicotine quantities and additives.

• Work with harm-reduction specialists instead of having knee-jerk reactions, to understand the reality of we, the people, and build a relationship instead of a separation between us and them so we can better work together.

What can you do?

There isn't much you can do, but what you can will have a mighty influence.

• Make your voice heard. Stop accepting the helicopter parenting that's ruining your quality of life. Contact you local MP, write them a letter or even an e-mail, tweet them or tag them on their socials (if they're young enough to have them) - and if you're not sure where you can find them you can find them here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

For Corby & East Northampton it's Lee Barron (L). For Wellingborough and Rushden it's Gen Kitchen (L), for Northampton North it's Lucy Rigby (L).

• Sign the petition. Any petition that gains notoriety has to be heard by the government in the house of commons, debated and considered. It also shows the strength of numbers and the common people's interests.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/713128

• Speak to those who you know, who vape or smoke, and inform them that they'll be losing out in the government gets their way. Tell people your quality of life will decrease so that the nanny-state can make big business profit more and the people profit less. Tell people that they'll lose their flavours - it's already happened in places like the Netherlands and WILL happen here if we don't speak up.

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THE FUTURE OF VAPING AND US

THE FUTURE OF VAPING AND US

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