The UK's second national lockdown forced all non-essential retailers and services to close between November 5 and December 2, disappointing the e-cigarette industry as the need for e-cigarette products as smoking cessation AIDS was again ignored. Sadly, this seems to be happening again.
This week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a third lockdown in Britain, starting this week and lasting until around mid-February. In his fourth speech since the pandemic began, Johnson said the new coronavirus strain was 50% to 70% more contagious, making the situation "depressing and worrying".
The UK fully endorses the use of e-cigarettes as a cessation and/or harm reduction tool and it is well known that the stress of the pandemic is leading to a significant resurgence of smoking. For this reason, public health experts have long pointed out that closing vape stores at this time is particularly absurd. As recently as October, the government-funded campaign Stoptober was urging smokers to quit by switching to e-cigarettes.
"Just last month, the government-backed Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to quit, including through vaping. Those who took up the challenge this month are now unable to get the same level of support and products from their local vape shop. We will be raising these views strongly with the government on behalf of the industry and asking them to reconsider their position on vaping shops and reclassify them as essential for the future, "UKVIA director general John Dunne said ahead of the blockade in November last year.