States rejects vape shop's petition over new laws

A petition to overturn a new ban on under-18s entering vape shops in Guernsey has been rejected.

The Health and Social Care Committee said the ban meets its objective of protecting children "from exposure to vaping products".

It responded to a campaign by VapeBar Guernsey, which asked for the scrapping of incoming legislation making it illegal for children to enter the premises.

Selling vapes to under 18s was banned in June last year, and since 31 January it has been illegal to sell disposable vapes. The ban is set to come into force at the end of March and VapeBar Guernsey said "thousands" had signed its petition.

In a statement, VapeBar Guernsey said the judgement was "disconnected from reality".

It said: "So after over 1,300 islanders took the time to sign a petition, this is the response we get.

"It was a flat-out no, with no willingness to listen, no compromise, and no acknowledgement of local families of small businesses trying to operate responsibly.

"We're told the current rules are balanced and proportionate, but from where we're standing, this feels completely disconnected from reality."

It continued: "We're not asking to expose children to harm. We're asking for practical, realistic policies that reflect how families actually live."

The Committee for Health and Social Care said it recognised the concerns raised in the petition and "the primary purpose of this legislation is to reduce children's exposure to vaping products, particularly given the evidence of marketing practices that appeal directly to young people".

It said specialist vape retailers which "comply fully with advertising and display restrictions" could still allow under 18s to enter.

"The committee remains confident that the proposed regulations strike the right balance between supporting adult smokers and protecting young people from early exposure to vaping products," it added.

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