Some worry, though, that the ban’s effect on smokers and business owners in Leeds could be significant, with vape shops popping up all over the city. Also, Leeds falls into the ‘large city’ category (under 1 million inhabitants) which data suggests accounts for those most likely to vape.
Restrictions have already begun in Leeds, with the city’s summer music festival, Leedsfest, banning single-use vapes in a push to make the festival more eco-friendly. Armed police forces were used to enforce the ban.
A local business owner commented on the proposal, saying that his shop wouldn’t be too badly affected by the ban, but other shops wouldn’t fare so well and would lead to those who vape disposables exclusively turning to so-called ‘black market’ alternatives. The full interview can be heard below.
Local councillors, such as the chair of the scrutiny board, Dan Cohen, have criticised the marketing of disposable vapes as “unambiguously designed to attract young people”. The fruity flavours, bright colours and low prices are the factors seen as most attractive to young people.
In response to the ban, John Dunne, the director general of the UKVIA, said in a press release, “We have been calling on the government for many years to do more to keep vapes out of the hands of children, such as higher on-the-spot fines for retailers who sell vapes to children, although we’d like to see these raised further, to £10,000 from £2,500.”
He criticised an outright ban, though, saying, “Any decision to restrict adult access to vapes, particularly disposable vapes, on which over half of smokers looking to quit rely, would be counterproductive.”
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