Addressing the Usdaw annual conference in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “Vaping has skyrocketed in popularity. What was once something designed to help cut down on smoking has now become a public health problem itself. Analysis done by the Office of National Statistics shows that the largest group of vape users are 24 and under and this group is growing year on year. This popularity amongst young people has a direct impact on our members at work.
“So many have first-hand experiences of asking customers for ID and being met with hostility. Age restricted sales are a real flashpoint, with shopworkers facing, abuse, threats and even violence, just for doing their job and complying with the law. We welcome the Government's plan to ban disposable vapes, but this doesn't go far enough, vapes would still be advertised prominently in store, continuing to encourage the purchase of non-disposable vapes.
“The most effective way to stop children and young people from being attracted to vapes is by having a consistent approach across both cigarettes and vapes. A consistent approach in how they can be advertised, on how they can be packaged and on where they can be sold in store.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion