C-stores fare poorly in providing vaping advice to smokers: study

A new study by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has revealed that very few of the convenience stores are helping smokers who are looking to switch to vaping with quality advice.

The UKVIA’s recent study revealed that only 1.1 per cent smokers looking to switch to vaping for the first time received quality advice from convenience stores while specialist vape retail stores become main source of advice for 48 per cent of smokers.

Supermarkets were also fared poorly, with only 2.8 per cent receiving proper guidance. Friends and family (35.2%) and another vaper (22.7%) followed specialist vape stores as the main source of advice.

In terms of quality of advice, 54.4 per cent of those who had bought their first vape from a specialist vape store said that the support they received was extremely informative and supportive and this compared with online retail (25%), convenience stores (14.8%) and supermarkets (14.3%).

Of the current vapers, 57.4 per cent said that advice was instrumental in them quitting their smoking habits.

“The whole retail sector has a key role to play in advising smokers on a successful switch to vaping which is considerably less harmful than smoking. However, our research suggests that convenience stores and supermarkets could do a lot more to support smokers who are considering transitioning to vaping,” John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, said.

“With significant numbers of current vapers indicating that advice was critical to them quitting their habits and vaping now acknowledged widely as being a major contributor to the government’s smokefree targets, convenience outlets and the multiples could gain more loyal vape customers and market share if they invested in developing the knowledge of their staff about the vape products that they sell. This will help smokers make informed decisions about the type of vape devices, nicotine content and flavours that would give them the best chance of a successful quit.”

The low level of advice given out by convenience stores and supermarkets was also reflected in where smokers turned vapers purchased their first vape. Nearly 59 per cent bought their first device from a specialist store compared to 15 per cent at convenience/independent retailer and just 4 per cent from supermarkets.