As the second nationwide lockdown swept across Manchester, the thorny question of what does and does not constitute an essential product or service once again caused plenty of debate. This time, one of the most contentious decisions has been to force the city’s dozens of vape shops to close their doors.
Less than perfect timing
#QuitForCovid has been trending over recent weeks. There are some suggestions that smoking might exacerbate the effects of the virus, so smokers are being encouraged more than ever to give up the butts. However, while the sentiment is laudable, it also demonstrates a certain naivety. As Lloyd Bridges character in Airplane! might have said, a nationwide lockdown in the face of a global pandemic might be “the wrong week to quit smoking.”
That is even more the case when government regulations essentially dismiss the most efficient product for helping people quit, and the one endorsed by the UK’s health authorities, as non-essential. John Dunne heads up the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA). He described the decision as “strange and illogical,” especially when off-licenses are permitted to stay open.
What are the alternatives?
There have already been concerns that what some see as heavy-handed regulation by the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive is pushing consumers away from licensed retailers and towards the black market in order to get their nicotine hits. There are, however, other alternatives.
You can, of course, still buy vaping products in supermarkets, where they are stocked alongside the cigarettes and tobacco. The problem here is that consumers cannot get the same level of advice as they can in a specialist shop.
Perhaps the best solution is to go online, where there are vendors who stock regular vaping products as well as more specialist lines such as CBD vape juice. They also provide online support and advice. This has proved to be a good year for businesses with an internet presence – and those in the vaping industry are no exceptions.
Helping Manchester’s smokers to kick the habit
There have been numerous recent initiatives aimed at helping people to quit smoking. Many of these have been focused on encouraging the switch to vaping and have had the full support of local authorities and health entities. These included pilot studies on providing those wishing to quit with free vape starter kits, and issuing free vape pens to smokers at homeless shelters.
The overall conclusions reached from these studies was that they were effective tools in smoking cessation. As recently as last month, there was a nationwide focus on providing special vape deals as part of the #Stoptober campaign. It comes across as a serious case of mixed messaging when at the same time, specialists selling vaping products and providing valuable advice are deemed non-essential.
There are more than 50 vape shops within a 10 mile radius of Manchester City Centre. They will be permitted to reopen their doors and welcome back customers when the full lockdown measures are lifted. Here’s to a successful, and smoke free, December for them and their customers.
