Vapes have become far more profitable for convenience stores than traditional tobacco, generating four times the earnings as sales of vaping devices soared ninefold over three years, a new study reveals.

Research from the University of Edinburgh (UoE) analyzing data from September 2022 shows that convenience stores earn an average profit margin of 37.1% on vape products, compared to just 8.5% for tobacco. The average weekly transactions involving vapes jumped from 10 in 2019 to 93 in 2022, reflecting a dramatic ninefold increase over three years.

Researchers noted that vape sales have likely continued to grow for small retailers beyond 2022. Meanwhile, foot traffic driven by tobacco sales has dropped significantly, with small retail outlets seeing a nearly 40% decline over the past decade. In 2015, 21% of transactions included tobacco, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), but by 2022, this figure had fallen to 12.8%.

The UK Parliament is currently debating the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes a progressive ban ensuring that individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, will never be allowed to purchase tobacco, as the legal smoking age will gradually increase. The bill also proposes restrictions on sweet vape flavors and redesigning e-cigarette packaging to make it less appealing to younger users.

A key element of the legislation focuses on stricter advertising regulations, proposing a complete ban on vape advertising and sponsorship. This would extend to public displays on buses, in cinemas, and in shop windows, aligning vape marketing rules with those for tobacco products.

Additionally, as part of environmental reforms, the bill will ban disposable vapes starting in June 2025. It also seeks to prohibit sales through vending machines and the free distribution of vaping products.