Illegal e-cigarette sales in Scotland exceed £ 2.8 billion

Scottish convenience store retailers are calling for more enforcement to crack down on what they say is the growing black market in illegal e-cigarettes, Convenience Store magazine reports. They warned that poor supervision could exacerbate the problem. The Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) said illegal e-cigarette sales cost public finances millions of pounds in tax revenue, harmed the interests of compliant local stores, and posed a health risk because the product was not regulated. As the UK government advances the Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Act and Scotland prepares supporting legislation, the SGF urges policymakers to consult closely with retailers and increase investment in trade standards enforcement to prevent unexpected opportunities for crime, especially in terms of taste restrictions and product placement rules. Luke McGarty, director of policy and public affairs at the British Retailers Federation (SGF), said organized criminal gangs are increasingly involved in the illegal e-cigarette trade, which are usually sold to underage consumers without any safety guarantees. He warned that illegal tobacco has caused about £ 2.8 billion in losses to the UK Revenue and Customs every year, and this number could rise sharply as the illegal e-cigarette market expands. Retailers have reported that illegal activity has intensified after the ban on single-use e-cigarettes was implemented, with three-quarters of SGF members saying the ban has encouraged illegal sales. Shopkeepers and the federation stressed that without stronger enforcement and carefully crafted rules, further regulation could accelerate illegal trade, increase crime and abuse against retail employees, and undermine public health goals including smoking cessation.