UKVIA calls for click-and-collect reprieve in Scotland

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Vape stores must be able to continue to offer a click-and-collect service in Scotland to maintain progress on the country’s public health strategy, according to the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

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The call comes as smoking rates in Scotland have been shown to be increasing for the first time in seven years, despite government aims to see it tumble over the next decade.

A quarter of Scottish smokers (26%) also said that they had been smoking more heavily since the first lockdown began in March. This rise coincided with the closure of stop smoking services and specialist vaping retailers during the pandemic, UKVIA says.

John Dunne, director general at UKVIA, said: “Cancer Research UK has already cautioned that Scotland is on course to miss its smoke-free target by 16 years. All the nations of the UK must reconsider how they support the vaping industry and the public during lockdown. Squandering the potential of modern, harm-reduction tools is a disaster for public health.

“I am writing to ministers and MPs to urge them to protect click-and-collect retail provisions, and the British vaping sector stands ready to support in any way it can.”

Vaping retailer and manufacturer VPZ has also written to the health ministers and public health officials highlighting its concerns.

Doug Mutter, manufacturing and compliance director at VPZ, said: “Years of hard work in reducing smoking rates in Scotland are on the verge of being wasted if we fail to act, by not providing the tools people need to stop this deadly habit.

“Specialist vaping stores have done a fantastic job in adapting safely to trying times, so the suspension of click-and-collect is a huge blow. We must be allowed to properly support those seeking advice and guidance on harm-reduction alternatives.”