French vejpshop: "We will not let customers fall back to the cigarettes. We will stay open anyway"
In an extended effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the French government has decided to close virtually all shops in the country. The ban also applies to vejpshops selling e-cigarettes, but not to tobacconists selling cigarettes.
PLEASE NOTE! Since March 18 sheep French vejpshops open again! Ny Article here!
According to the Vaping Post newspaper, vital businesses such as pharmacies, banks and service establishments have been exempted, as have tobacco retailers. This has led to protests from several e-cigarette shops in the country, according to French Vaping Post
"If the tobacconists are open, I will stay open. I'm not going to let my customers worry about going back to smoking" writes a shop owner in a comment to an article in Vaping Post.
Counted as tobacco products
According to the Vaping Post, the French trade association for e-cigarettes, FIVAPE, has been in contact with the health authority on the issue. The authority has previously ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs and restaurants but is now extending the ban to other businesses. The final message was that vejpshoppar does not constitute an important asset for the population. This is despite the fact that closed vejpshops risk increasing the number of smokers in the country. Something that in turn impairs the users' ability to deal with the coronavirus, writes Vaping Post.
Several shops have already closed down, partly out of consideration for staff. Others argue that under the law, e-cigarettes (EU TPD - same as in Sweden) already count as tobacco products and should be granted the same exemption as tobacco retailers.
"I stay open, but by myself and without regular staff. I only let two customers in at a time, wear protective gloves, provide hand sanitizer, and sanitize the counter and everything customers touch, regularly" writes one shop owner. "There is an obvious risk that my customers will be forced to start smoking again if I close"
