Austrian Tobacco Law Amendment Overturned, E-Cigarette Retailers Relieved

According to a report by Reuters, Austria's constitutional court has overturned a proposed tobacco law amendment, bringing relief to e-cigarette retailers. The amendment aimed to restrict the sale of most e-cigarette products to officially licensed tobacco shops only.

The government proposed that, starting in October, the sale of e-cigarettes would be limited to state-authorized tobacco shops to protect young people and for public health reasons.

Retailers specializing in e-cigarettes opposed this, as they would only be allowed to sell reusable devices but not e-liquid or disposable e-cigarettes.

On August 3, the constitutional court ruled that the proposed amendment was unconstitutional, stating that it was unfair to impede retailers' freedom to trade in the name of health, and that e-cigarettes should not be treated like other tobacco products.

“We are relieved; we can continue our business without having to close,” said Thomas Baburek, head of the e-cigarette association VFFED, who owns an e-cigarette shop.

Supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and gas stations in Austria are also allowed to sell e-cigarette products, but at prices higher than those in officially authorized tobacco shops.

Many experts believe that e-cigarettes, which heat nicotine liquid into an inhalable vapor, are a lower-risk alternative to smoking, but opponents argue that they may entice young people to use traditional cigarettes.

Austrian tobacco merchants responded that e-cigarette products should not be sold in an uncontrolled manner.