MyNews store moves vapes away from toy cars after complaints

Convenience store MyNews has changed the position of vape products displayed at one of its stores in Petaling Jaya to ensure it is not next to toys, following complaints.

The disposable vape products were moved behind the cashier counter, alongside cigarettes, MyNews' senior manager for merchandising Amyra Zulfkili told Malaysiakini when contacted.

She added that this is in accordance with the display direction to all stores, and only the Sunwaymas store had wrongly positioned the vape products, which dispense liquid nicotine.

"Our original directive to all stores was to display the vape products behind the counter with the tobacco products (below)," she said.

This comes after a customer took to social media to complain that the products were sold right next to toy cars and comic books, which attract children.

Twitter user Ooi Beng Cheang said he entered the store to buy ice cream, but found the vape products displayed in a locked cabinet, next to toy cars.

"Is this what they mean by the vape industry self-regulating? Selling the product next to children's products?" he asked.

He also urged Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa to request the ministry to engage with commercial stores on the matter.

Earlier, Zaliha told Parliament the government has engaged with the vape industry and reminded industry players to self-regulate.

Attracting children

Responding to Ooi, former Health Ministry deputy director-general Dr Christopher Lee also raised concerns that the placement might attract children to try out the vape product.

"Was this intended or was it on purpose? Regardless, kids will be attracted to it and they might just try.

"Sad that our laws allow their sale to minors. But it's okay, we can collect more taxes, right?" he quipped on Twitter.

The adjunct professor of medicine was referring to the government's controversial move to remove nicotine from the Poisons Act, rendering it to be unregulated.

The government said it did so to make way for the yet-to-be-tabled anti-tobacco law, which would also affect the vaping industry.

But critics say removing it from the Poisons Act before another law is passed creates a regulation loophole and the products can be sold to minors without prohibition.

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin previously said when he was in cabinet, there were already requests to remove liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act so it could be taxed.

Open advertising

This comes after health advocates raised the alarm over open advertising of vape products on a digital billboard in Selayang, Selangor last week.

Health professionals have raised concern over what they believe to be a rise in e-cigarette- or vaping-use-associated lung injury (Evali), including among young adults and children.

The vape industry worldwide has been accused of targeting young people through its promotional activities and hooking teenagers onto nicotine.

Earlier this year, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim was panned for donning a football jersey which had the logo of a vape company on it.

He later apologised, saying he was not aware of this, and that he does not agree with vape companies sponsoring sports teams.

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