Have UC vaping habits changed, one month on from new regulations?

What’s different? Source: Vaping360. 

As of March 21, a set of new regulations have added enforcements to the manufacturing and retailing of vaping devices. Canta found out if UC’s vaping habits have been affected by the introduction of these new rules. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the regulations include prohibition in retailers, manufacturers, and importers of products with images of cartoons or toys, products without permitted flavour descriptions, and products that do not meet Product Safety Requirements – nicotine limits, removable batteries, and child safety mechanisms.

An online survey by Canta found that 66.7% of respondents had experienced no change in the devices they are purchasing, and 49.7% were aware of the regulations. 

“I knew they were going to change, [I] read all the laws beforehand because I’m a daily vaper,” said one respondent. 

“[I] had heard of new laws but didn’t know what they were,” “read about it in The Press. Switched from disposables to pod refills for higher nic,” said others. 

While 64.6% noticed no changes in retailers in the last month, some changes that were noticed included sales of “20 nic, no 50 nic,” and an increase in ID checks. Another said, “They no longer have the higher nicotine pods or devices behind the counter.” 

Some said the changes had limited purchasing: “I had to spend extra to buy the battery for a reusable vape. I feel that this has made it easier for me to commit to vaping.” 

“I don’t agree with it, I don’t like our current government but I think every individual should have the right to choose if they want to vape.” 

“I am very close to quitting vaping. I use the cheaper items as I can’t afford the big ones. If they take away my one I may need to get disposable vapes and they don’t go as low in nic as I am on now,” someone said. 

Another response included, “not enough has been done, these regulations haven’t changed a thing.” 

Labour List MP and former Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said the regulations were driven at changing flavours and disposable vape specifications. 

Verrall said “many” of the changes to disposable vapes “were directed at other elements that existing vapers may not notice”, and is an area where the current government has “delayed the implementation”. 

“The main thing that we think remains to be done is regulation of stores, and that’s an area so far where the government hasn’t chosen to touch that, so that’s the overall number of stores.” 

Verrall said her current job is to “hold the government to account”. 

“As I’ve said, I think the lack of any effort to reduce the number of stores is a major omission on the part of the government.”