Norfolk vape shops warn that more regulation is needed

Dave Clarke runs Norfolk’s largest independent vape retailer, The Vape Gurus.

The Vape Gurus owner Dave Clarke warns a lack of regulation is threatening the industry (Image: Vape Gurus)

He started the business, which has stores in North Walsham, Aylsham, and Sheringham, after vaping helped him quit a 70-cigarettes-a-day smoking habit.

In its first few years, Mr Clarke said there was huge demand for his expertise, as more people turned to vape products as a way to wean themselves off tobacco. 

However, with an increasingly high number of non-smokers now using them, he said most corner stores and newsagents now sell disposable vapes as standard.

The Vape Gurus owner Dave Clarke warns a lack of regulation is threatening the industry (Image: Vape Gurus)

He said: “The problem with the disposables is a lot of them are 20mg which is a huge amount of nicotine.

“The people selling them don’t really understand the health implications.

“There’s also a big problem with illegal products making their way into shops and never getting caught.”

The legal volume limit for nicotine E-Liquids in the UK is 2ml - up to 600 puffs.

But Mr Clarke said he frequently hears from customers that they’ve been able to buy products containing more than 2,000.

And as well as being dangerous, he said it’s having an impact on business. 

Vape shop owners say the availability of high-concentrate products is threatening business (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “People see they can get these high-puff devices for cheaper and think it’s better value - we’ve lost a lot of custom because of that.”

The UK government introduced regulations on the type of vapes that can be sold back in 2016, but Mr Clarke said the fines - which are capped at £5,000 - are not a strong enough deterrent to stop retailers taking the risk.

He said: “We need to see a much stronger approach to people breaking the rules.

“There’s a real chance we’ll see vape shops going under if that crackdown doesn’t happen.”