Tag: United Kingdom

  • UKVIA Appoints John Dunne as General Director

    UKVIA Appoints John Dunne as General Director

    John Dunne (Photo: UKVIA)

    John Dunne has been confirmed as director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) after a vote by the trade body’s full membership.

    Dunne was previously responsible for the UKVIA’s member recruitment activity, where he oversaw significant growth in membership levels. He is also the UKVIA’s primary media spokesperson on television, radio and in print.

    Dunne has a long and well-respected background in European vaping and has held senior positions at some of the sector’s leading firms. In addition, he has advised industry analysts and financial institutions on the vaping industry, both in the U.K. and globally.

    The new role has been established to support future planned growth of the UKVIA, as it extends its role and influence, while building its membership base significantly.

    “I am honored that the UKVIA membership has put its faith in me.,” said Dunne. “The association is well placed to go from strength to strength, with membership growing consistently despite the challenges of the pandemic.

    “The next 12 months are hugely important to the vaping industry, with the government review of the Tobacco & Related Products Regulations set to shape the future of our sector. It is crucial that we have a unified voice to influence these regulations, for the benefit of the industry and the public health of the nation. We have already started formulating our contribution to the government’s review, working closely with all our members.”

  • U.K. Group Campaigning Against Underage Access

    U.K. Group Campaigning Against Underage Access

    Photo: VPZ

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has teamed up with Trading Standards to prevent the underage sales of vapor products across the country.

    With the support of Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards, the association has published the Preventing Underage Sales Guide—the first of its kind published by the U.K. vapor industry. 

    John Dunne, director of the UKVIA
    John Dunne

    The guide covers current vaping age legislation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; use and best practice enforcement of the Challenge 25 rule; and dealing with the issue of proxy purchasing where an adult buys on behalf of someone under 18. It also advises on different forms of ID that can be accepted and methods of deception to be aware of as well as points to consider with digital age verification.

    “The legal age to buy vaping products is 18, and we want to keep it that way by making it as hard as possible for minors to get their hands on vaping devices and e-liquids,” said John Dunne, director at the UKVIA. “This guide is designed to ensure consistency and high-level standards across the industry when it comes to age verification.”

  • Outdoor Smoking Ban Condemned

    Outdoor Smoking Ban Condemned

    Simon Clark (Photo: Taco Tuinstra)

    The smoker advocacy group Forest has condemned a plan to ban outdoor smoking at U.K. pubs and cafes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    A group of lawmakers wants the government to require smoking to be banned if the businesses want licenses to serve pavement drinks.

    “This is gross opportunism by a small group of anti-smoking peers who have spotted a chance to advance their extreme anti-smoking agenda,” said Simon Clark, director of Forest.

    “There is no evidence that smoking in the open air is a threat to public health, so this is a matter for individual businesses not government or local authorities. In the wake of lockdown, pubs, restaurants and cafes already face huge challenges. This is the worst possible time to add to their burden by imposing further regulations that could discourage a lot of smokers from returning.”

    Forest is urging the hospitality industry to fight the ban.

    “The smoking ban had a huge impact on the pub sector and was a significant factor in thousands of pubs closing after it was introduced in 2007,” Clark said.

     

  • UKVIA: U.K. Vape Shops Well-Positioned for Reopening

    UKVIA: U.K. Vape Shops Well-Positioned for Reopening

    Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The entrepreneurial spirit displayed by vape shops during the U.K. government’s 10-week coronavirus lockdown will help them bounce back after the economy reopens, according to the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

    On Monday, the government announced it would allow vape shops to reopen June 15.

    The UKVIA said it is “immensely proud” of vaping businesses for the responsible approach they have taken during the lockdown.

    John Dunne

    “The response from the industry to the challenging conditions has been both staggering and exemplary,” said John Dunne, director at UKVIA. “I know that our members that make up a large share of the vaping market have been working around the clock to provide online and home delivery services to the 3.2 million vapers across the country.

    Dunne believes that the industry will be well placed to more than meet the social distancing guidance when shops reopen.

    “All our retail members have still been ‘open for business’ since the lockdown begun and have introduced social distancing measures that go well beyond the government guidance,” he said. “This should give vapers confidence when going to their local stores.”

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