Denmark's government has been cracking down on vejpar for some years. A previous ban on flavoured e-juices was recently extended by making it illegal to both import and sell disposable vejps in large quantities. However, this does not seem to have stopped many people from buying them. Instead, disposable models have generated a jackpot on the black market.
Already in 2020, the Danish Parliament voted in favour of a proposal to ban flavourings in e-liquids. Despite the fact that the ban seemed to contravene EU treaties and free trade within the Union, the new ban was introduced in 2022.
In 2024, further laws were introduced to throttle the market. It was then forbidden for private individuals to import or buy more than 10 disposable vejps, for private use. According to the Public Health Agency, the ban will hit hard those who intend to sell the products illegally.
Found dealers quickly
The Danish newspaper Se och Hör recently took a deep dive into the black market and discovered that, despite the bans, sales are booming. The only difference is that the money is now flowing straight into the pockets of illegal traders. The marketing is done relatively openly on social media and the newspaper quickly got in touch with several "dealers".
Can sell 300 in one day
A person who sells disposable vejp via Instagram and Snapchat tells Se och Hör about his lucrative hobby.
- I have a lot of work to do, and I earn a lot of money from it," says the person who wishes to remain anonymous.
The man started selling vejps about a year and a half ago after seeing friends making large sums of money from the business. Despite having a full-time job on the side, the man spends several hours a day on his side business.
- "A lot of people want puff bars, especially on pay weekends when I can sell up to 300 in a day. Usually I sell around 60 a day," says the person.
"Exaggerating in Denmark"
He says customers range from nurses to 17-year-olds who sometimes come with their parents to buy the products. He sees no immediate moral dilemmas in selling them, even though it is illegal.
- It's not like I'm selling cocaine or hashish. Puff bars are legal in Sweden, where you can buy them at a petrol station. I think we exaggerate in Denmark. If cigarettes were illegal here, then maybe I would stop selling puff bars.
Even more laws and bans to come
This "dealer" tells Se och Hör that he earns up to SEK 50,000 a month from sales. And completely tax-free.
The Danish government claims to be aware of the trade, and the response appears to be a crackdown. Denmark's Minister of the Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde, has made statements about cracking down on criminals who illegally import disposable vejps.
- This is unacceptable, as they contain very high nicotine concentrations and are harmful and addictive," said Ms Løhde.
The Minister plans to present another new bill in October to increase penalties for breaches of tobacco and nicotine product rules, including substantial increases in fines. Authorities have also been given more powers to seize illegal products and report cases to the police for further action.
