Since the 2020 vaping legislation was passed and subsequent regulations enacted, only licenced Specialist Vape Retailers (SVRs) can stock a full range of flavours. General retailers such as dairies are limited to selling just mint, menthol, and tobacco flavours. Many dairies have subsequently separated off part of their premises to be SVRs.
“Dairy owners are right to say being allowed to sell only three vape flavours is not helping New Zealand achieve Smokefree Aotearoa 2025, but some of them are not helping themselves,” said Nancy Loucas, co-founder of Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy.
“Dairy owners shouldn’t be limited flavour-wise, but a few of them need first to clean up their own backyard. Rogue dairy owners who continue to sell vapes to minors need the book thrown at them and fast. Again, we urge the Government for more compliance checks and greater enforcement.”
“There’s too much inconsistency around the level of product expertise available to consumers and enforcement from the regulator. General retailers are just not sufficiently trained. Yes, to them selling closed systems like pods strictly to 18-year-olds or over, but not to them selling open tanks or any products where they need to explain best practices to customers.”
AVCA says the two main issues around youth vaping remain a lack of enforcement and parental responsibility. Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall recently noted that vapes themselves are not the issue, “We need to continue supporting people who smoke tobacco to successfully switch to less harmful products.”
