Shop owners across the UK have expressed concerns to GB News about the upcoming ban on disposable vapes, with many fearing significant impacts on their businesses.
The ban, set to take effect from June 1, will make it illegal to sell single-use vapes as part of the government's tobacco crackdown.
Corner shop owners and vape retailers have shared exclusive comments with GB News, stating their worries about the financial implications and practicality of the new legislation.
Some retailers report customers are already "stockpiling" disposable vapes ahead of the ban, with online shops seeing orders of popular flavours more than doubling in recent weeks.
Riaz Ahmed said that this "could kill" his business
GB NEWS
The controversial measures, first proposed by the Conservative government and now being implemented by Labour, have divided opinion among both retailers and consumers.
Riaz Ahmed, who owns a corner shop in Ilford in East London, told GB News: "This will kill the business. We are already struggling as it is with costs like electricity going up."
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He added "This is the worst one yet is the business rates going up, to around £500 a month for me which is devastating."
Ahmed also criticised the broader tobacco legislation being introduced by the government.
"The generational tobacco ban is unworkable and stupid. They're also going to restrict the sale of vapes," he said.
His comments reflect growing anxiety among small retailers who rely on vape and tobacco sales for a significant portion of their income.
A closed vape shop in Royston
GB NEWS
Many shop owners fear the combined impact of the disposable vape ban and other tobacco restrictions could force some businesses to close.
The owner of Time2Vape in Cambridge shared similar concerns with GB News about potential further restrictions.
"I've heard rumours they want to ban flavours and things like that if they do that people will just go back to cigarettes," he said.
"If it's flavourless or tobacco flavour, they'll go back to cigarettes that then be more of a problem to the industry than this fact," the shop owner explained.
The shop owner at Time2vape claimed "people will go back to smoking"
GB NEWS
One vape shop owner told GB News they believe "disposable vapes should be banned, rechargeable ones should not."
Several people interviewed by GB News supported the ban, citing environmental concerns and potential health benefits. They suggested the ban might help them quit their nicotine addiction altogether.
But opinions remain divided among consumers too. A resident from Royston in Hertfordshire offered a different perspective to GB News.
"I do not think that they should get rid of them. They are helpful to people who want to quit smoking or social smokers," she said.
"If I had a rechargeable one I would use it all the time. At the moment I just take a disposable vape on a night out."
