Vape stores setting up inside booze shops “only exacerbates the harm from both”, say opponents, but the vaping industry says liquor store age restrictions would likely limit exposure to young people.
Communities Against Alcohol Harm (CAAH), which assists groups to oppose alcohol licences, says several south Auckland liquor stores have been allowed to sell vapes in the same premises in the past year.
Recent off-licence renewal applications, which include variations to operate a vape shop, showed that small sections of bottle shops were being sectioned off and turned into a vape store.
Bottle shops approved by the District Licensing committee (DLC) to sell vapes alongside alcohol include Finlayson Liquor in Clendon Park, Liquor Legends East Tamaki, and Hall Ave Liquor Centre in Māngere.
The two different stores, operating under the same roof, were often separated by floor to ceiling walls, and had different entrances. Access to both shops from inside the premises was restricted to staff only and closed off when not in use.
Vape products were not allowed to be purchased from the bottle shop, and the certified manager of the bottle shop was not allowed to assist in any vape sales.
CAAH secretary Dr Grant Hewison, said for all the recent applications, community objections were made, and while their concerns were heard and some conditions put in place, permissions were still granted.
“Communities in south Auckland have been concerned about the proliferation of vape stores over recent years,” Hewison said.
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“Now they are seeing vape stores want to co-locate with a liquor store. This only exacerbates the harm from both alcohol and vapes, especially for youth, in these vulnerable communities.”
Hewison also raised his concerns before the safety and regulatory committee of the Auckland Council.
“Youth are very attracted to vapes, because that’s what vapes are designed to do, which means they are also attracted to alcohol. We are quite concerned about that co-location.”
But Auckland Council says unless there is a national legislation change, it can only monitor the impact.
In a DLC decision for Liquor Legends East Tamaki last April, it stated that vape store establishments and operations were subject to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act.
While there were concerns from the public about the co-location of bottle stores with vape stores, there was no connection to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and no limitations, DLC chairperson Gavin Campbell stated.
“The objectors have not convinced us that the co-location of the premises and the vape store is such that we would or could consider declining the application.”
Hewison said the different closing times of the stories were a concern for his group.
“These vape shops stay open beyond 9pm, so the liquor stores closes, they can’t stay open beyond that, but the vape store can remain open.“
Council’s general manager of policy Louise Mason said it acknowledged the advocacy from the community.
“Everything we do is underpinned by national legislation, and so the best approach would be for a change to the law so the council can make a local change on this issue,“ Mason said.
“We are continuing to monitor the impact of our Local Alcohol Policy. This allows us to gather evidence to advocate for legislative change or back up any changes that need to be made to the policy.”
Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand chair Jonathaon Devery said vaping products should always be sold responsibly, with strict compliance with the law and youth access restrictions.
“While vape retailers and liquor outlets may sometimes operate from neighbouring premises, these are separate businesses, each with their own licensing and compliance obligations,” Devery said.
“Like specialist vape stores, liquor stores are already age-restricted environments. In practice, this means the presence of vaping products in liquor stores is likely to reduce exposure to young people.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
