Campaign group We Vape has warned that government plans to ban the open display of vaping products could cost convenience stores up to £3,500 each, claiming the official estimate significantly understates the financial burden on retailers.
The group said its analysis suggests the average cost of complying with a vape display ban would be more than 20 times higher than the government's estimate of £156.20 per store, as retailers would need to invest in larger lockable storage units, shop refits and additional labour.
The claims come as the government consults on proposals to introduce plain packaging and restrictions on the packaging, appearance and display of tobacco and vaping products. The consultation closes on 2 October.
We Vape founder Mark Oates said the government's cost assumptions were “miles off”.
“The government is asking independent retailers to accept a multi-million-pound bill based on a figure that our analysis shows is miles off – the real average cost is up to £3,500 per store, more than 20 times higher than ministers are claiming,” he said.
“Plain packaging is already designed to remove visual appeal. Piling a full tobacco-style display ban on top creates unnecessary cost and operational chaos for local shops. It will seriously erode retailer profits and risks making it harder for some adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives, driving them back to cigarettes instead.”
According to We Vape, the government's impact assessment assumes most convenience stores would only require inexpensive under-counter drawers costing around £85-£120, that manufacturers would subsidise a proportion of the installation costs, and that little labour or shop-fitting work would be needed.
The campaign group argues those assumptions do not reflect the reality for many convenience retailers, which often stock extensive vape ranges displayed across several metres of shelving. It said moving products behind the counter would require larger lockable cabinets, installation work, security upgrades and store reconfiguration, as well as disruption during the refit.
We Vape estimates that while a simpler tobacco display ban introduced more than a decade ago cost retailers between £450 and £850 per store, inflation alone would increase that to around £700-£1,350 today. It says the more extensive requirements of a vape display ban could push average costs to as much as £3,500 per convenience store.
The organisation also questioned the government's estimate that the new rules would add just two seconds to each vape transaction, arguing that retrieving products from locked drawers or storage units could increase serving times by around 20 seconds.
We Vape noted that the Association of Convenience Stores last month described the government's £156 estimate as a “serious underestimate” and said compliance costs were likely to run into four figures. It also pointed to the government's own impact assessment, which estimates the proposals will result in £185.1 million in additional restocking costs, including £139.7m for convenience and small shops alone, alongside further costs arising from longer transaction times.
The campaign group is urging retailers, employees, adult vapers and consumers to respond to the consultation before it closes, arguing that the proposals risk imposing significant costs on local shops while undermining vaping's role as a harm-reduction tool for adult smokers.
“We urge retailers, staff and customers to respond to the consultation and make the true costs clear before 2 October. This is the last chance to stop a policy that damages harm reduction,” Oates said.