RETAILERS CALL TO LEGALISE E-CIGARETTES

Emily Jarvie, 
The Advocate
31st July 2020

RETAIL sector leaders have called on the government to legalise vaping in Tasmania in a bid to help struggling small businesses recover from COVID-19.

In a submission to the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett said given the impact of COVID-19 on small retailers, the council needed to look at more radical ways to support businesses such as legalising vaping.

It is illegal to buy, sell or use e-cigarette cartridges containing nicotine in Tasmania.

“If [vaping products] were legalised in Tasmania, small businesses would be able to reduce their trade in traditional cigarettes without compromising their ongoing viability – a rare win-win situation,” Mr Mallett said.

“In a similar vein, we also support the reexamination of the current prohibition on small business retailers being able to sell takeaway alcohol.

“It simply makes no sense that only a certain class of retailer can sell take-away alcohol to the disadvantage of others.”

Australasian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Jeff Rogut said convenience store operators who already sell age restricted products would be able to also responsibly sell alcohol.

“This would not be 24 hours a day but in line with other retailers in their local areas,” Mr Rogut said.

“Alcohol regulations are archaic in many states and it has given the major supermarket operators further competitive advantage over smaller retailers.”

Mr Rogut said there was a market for e-cigarettes to be sold in convenience stores and also suggested there be greater law enforcement at a street level on sales of illicit tobacco.

In its submission to the council, Business Northwest suggested improvements be made to tourism infrastructure and the Coast’s rich agrarian history be promoted to visitors.

“The Coast has so many fantastic natural tourist hotspots and there is scope to link from Cradle Mountain to Stanley as an agrarian hotspot,” the submission said.

The Northern Tasmania Development Corporation recommended focusing on the state’s competitive advantages such as renewable energy and its brand.



“Small businesses would be able to reduce their trade in traditional cigarettes without compromising their ongoing viability.”