According to AOL reported on January 8, a study shows that in three years, vape sales in the UK have increased by nine times, and convenience stores are four times more profitable than tobacco.
According to data analyzed by the University of Edinburgh in September 2022, the average profit of vapes sold in convenience stores is 37.1%, while the average profit of cigarette products is 8.5%. During this period, vape transactions per convenience store also soared from 10 in 2019 to 93 in 2022, a nine-fold increase over the past three years.
The researchers observed that vape sales may have continued to grow among small retailers since 2022. The data shows that customer traffic with cigarettes as the primary purchase is down nearly 40 percent compared to nearly a decade ago.
In 2015, a similar analysis by Action Health for Tobacco Control (Ash) found that about 21 percent of transactions involved tobacco, but by 2022 this had dropped to 12.8 percent. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the proportion of UK adults who smoke has also fallen from 16% to 12% between 2016 and 2023.
The study notes that smokers’ switch to vapes could potentially benefit small retailers, for whom tobacco sales are becoming less important. The high profits of vapes also highlight the importance of establishing a retail licensing system to crack down on irresponsible sellers and protect legitimate retailers.
Jamie Pearce, professor of health geography at the University of Edinburgh,
- “Our analysis shows that convenience stores rely on tobacco for only 10% of their profits, and would benefit even more if customers switched to other products.” Where commercial and public health interests occasionally coincide, the fewer people who buy tobacco, everyone benefits.”
Hazel Cheeseman, CEO of Ash, said,
- “Declining tobacco sales benefit national health and convenience stores, which are making less profit from selling tobacco. At the same time, vape sales have surged, which is more favorable for retailers. Responsible retailers who are already profiting from vapes should welcome regulations to improve the market, reduce its appeal to children, and crack down on unscrupulous vendors.”
