Vape shops cut down on supplies as customers stock up after Hong Kong passes bill targeting e-cigarette business

In previous months, small stores such as VapeBullHK in Wan Chai could rack up more than HK$1 million in sales

But as lawmakers take aim at stubbing out the habit, they have cut back on orders and prepare for the worst

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Hongkongers smoke e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in Admiralty on Wednesday. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 11:38pm, 21 Oct 2021Updated: 11:38pm, 21 Oct 2021

Shops catering to the vaping crowd were cutting back on supplies while customers stocked up on their favourite products after lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday aimed at outlawing the business of e-cigarettes in Hong Kong.

But the ban leaves untouched the right of consumers to use the gadgets that either heat up or combust tobacco products. Some determined smokers said they would wait to see how the new law was implemented six months from now before deciding the best way to secure their tobacco supplies.

Some stores have lost half their customers in the past month as smokers anticipated the ban. Photo: Nora Tam

At the VapeBullHK in Wan Chai, employee Venus Yuen said the store sold more than HK$1.2 million (US$154,300) worth of heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in September.

Although sales had not yet been affected, Yuen said her shop had since cut its inventory in half in preparation for the new law.

“We used to replenish supplies five to six times a month, but last month we just made one purchase because we don’t want to stock too much goods,” the 24-year-old said.