In an open letter to Nadhim Zahawi, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UKVIA cites the experience of Italy, the country in Europe hit hardest by Coronavirus so far and where the government reversed its decision to close vape stores as part of its containment programme.

The letter reads: “We recognise and support the government’s intensified containment plan for the virus, but would urge you and your colleagues to look at the example of Italy.

“Dr Riccardo Polosa, a world-renowned scientist and researcher on vaping and tobacco harm reduction and founder of the Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, successfully argued that due to the stress caused by the coronavirus, with the closure of vape shops vapers were highly likely to go back to smoking cigarettes to maintain their nicotine needs. This could be dangerous from a public health perspective and could heighten the risk of exposure of tobacco smoke to bystanders during the crisis, including families and children. It could also place a further burden on an already overstretched health system.”

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The UKVIA goes on to call on the British government to give the sector every support it can so that the industry can maintain its service to three million-plus vapers across the country, including those in self-isolation and people living in remote areas, while continuing to play a key role in helping even more smokers to quit by taking up vaping.

John Dunne, UKVIA director, added: “The UK vaping industry, including retail outlets, online stores, manufacturers and compliance specialists, has a vital role to play in communities across the country, both from an economic and public health perspective and we want the government to recognise this in their response to the unprecedented challenge we face.

“In particular, if vape shops were to close it would mean that smokers and vapers would not have access to specialist advice. Keeping the vaping sector open for business is also crucial to meeting the government’s target for England to be smoke-free by 2030.”

The UKVIA has also sent its letter to small business minister Paul Scully and minister for prevention, public health and primary care Jo Churchill.