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

What’s different? Source: Vaping360. 

As of March 21, a series 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 changes in the kind of vaping devices they purchase since the March 21 regulations.

49.7% of respondents were aware of this particular set of regulations, 29.2% were not, and 22.9% said they were somewhat aware. 

When asked how they become aware of changes, responses included “I knew they were going to change, read all the laws beforehand because I’m a daily vaper,” “[I] had heard of new laws but didn’t know what they were,” and “[I] read about it in The Press. Switched from disposables to pod refills for higher nic.” 

64.6% said they had noticed no changes in retailers in the last month. Canta also asked respondents to provide any examples of any changes they had noticed in vaping retailers: 

“I find it difficult to find 40mg, 20 at best.” 

“Selling 20 nic, no 50 nic,” said another, who had also detected an increase in ID checks. 

“They no longer have the higher nicotine pods or devices behind the counter - this is at a dairy, it's behind a locked door to the side of the shop.” 

Respondents noticed less stock, lower nicotine concentrations, and retailers getting rid of stock for cheaper prices: “Less options, less nicotine concentration, no disposables.” 

Some said that 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.” 

Other responses included: “Hasn’t affected my purchases,” and “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... was disappointed enough when they took away 60mg.” 

“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,” said another. 

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. 

In relation to the regulations introduced that concern nicotine concentration, Verrall said, “We’ve already got some feedback that that may have influenced the devices available, but the changes to disposable vapes – that’s an area where the current government has delayed the implementation… in some sense, many of the changes were directed at other elements that existing vapers may not notice.” 

“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,” she said.  

“My current job, in opposition, is to hold the government to account on its state of concern of youth vaping and get it to enact regulations that will actually achieve that, so 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.” 

“Another thing is… the government has indicated that it will raise fines for stores that break the law. However, I wonder if more than just that is required to increase the number of prosecutions of stores that are selling to under 18s.”