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Tag: Riot Labs

  • Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Today (August 11), the UK government announced plans to give councils greater control over high-street businesses, including requiring planning permission for new specialist vape shops and adult gaming centers. The government said the measures are intended to help communities manage the mix of businesses in town centers, address concerns about the concentration of vape and gambling outlets, and give local authorities greater powers to close premises linked to organized crime.

    The proposal has received qualified support from parts of the vaping industry, although concerns have been raised over its scope. Dr Marina Murphy, Head of External Affairs at Haypp UK, said specialist, compliant vape retailers should retain a place on high streets, arguing that a planning framework recognizing vape retail as a distinct category could support responsible businesses while giving councils more control over poorly run or non-compliant outlets. Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson similarly backed the objective but criticized the mechanism, describing planning permission as “a location test applied to a conduct problem.”

    Riot Labs and Action on Smoking and Health both noted that the proposed planning requirement would apply to new premises, meaning it would not directly address existing shops that breach regulations. Johnson is calling instead for the government to implement the retail licensing provisions contained in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which would apply to both existing and new retailers.

  • Riot Offers to Pull Flavored Products to Improve UK’s New Vape Regs

    Riot Offers to Pull Flavored Products to Improve UK’s New Vape Regs

    British e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs endorsed tougher restrictions on youth access to vaping products while urging the UK government to rethink proposed packaging and display rules, arguing that treating vapes like cigarettes could reinforce the misconception that the products carry similar health risks, saying the government is dressing “the cure like the disease.”

    As an alternative, the company said it would support limiting general retailers to selling only plain-packaged, tobacco-flavored vapes kept behind closed cabinets, while voluntarily confining its own flavored products to licensed, adult-only specialist vape shops once the retail licensing framework under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is implemented. Riot said the approach would reduce youth access while preserving adult smokers’ access to flavored products and specialist advice, contending that restricting distribution — not simply standardizing packaging — would better balance public health objectives with tobacco harm reduction.

  • Riot Labs Completes Flavor Rollout

    Riot Labs Completes Flavor Rollout

    Riot Labs unveiled the full lineup of its new Riot X range, expanding on last month’s launch of its Strawberry Orange Crush flavor. The updated collection introduces five bold new blends: Apple Sour Strawberry, Blueberry Blackberry Raspberry, Cherry Berry Crush, Cherry Peach Apple, and Blueberry Strawberry Watermelon, all developed in Riot’s U.K.-based, award-winning lab.

    Designed to support smokers on their cessation journey, Riot X combines Riot Labs’ signature daring flavors with “disruptive customer engagement.” Sales Director Matt Crann described the range as “loud and unapologetic,” intended for “late nights, loud tunes, and people who don’t do boring.” The products are available in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg nicotine strengths, priced from £3.99, and are now on sale online and in vape stores across the U.K.

  • Riot Labs Launches Strawberry Orange Crush

    Riot Labs Launches Strawberry Orange Crush

    UK e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs launched Strawberry Orange Crush, which it describes as the “best e-liquid flavor ever made.” The new blend is billed as a rich, candied strawberry and orange fusion with a fresh citrus snap and icy finish. Known for its bold flavors, Riot Labs says the release supports its broader mission to challenge the status quo in smoke cessation by offering adult smokers compelling alternatives.

    Sales Director Matt Crann said the flavor is designed to be “loud and unapologetic,” adding that innovation and standout taste are central to the brand’s identity. Strawberry Orange Crush is available online and in vape stores nationwide in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg nicotine strengths, with prices starting at £3.99.

  • Award-winning e-liquid producer, Riot Labs, has added six new “supercharged” flavors to its Riot X e-liquid range. 

    Award-winning e-liquid producer, Riot Labs, has added six new “supercharged” flavors to its Riot X e-liquid range. 

    PRESS RELEASE

    Developed in its award-winning lab in Milton Keynes, England, the range hits shelves from today and features six maximum intensity flavors, which the producer claims deliver the purest, punchiest hit of flavor on the market. 

    The launch comes at an important time for the vape sector, with the disposable vape ban pushing vapers towards pods and refillable devices to help them continue their quit-smoking journey. 

    Ben Johnson, CEO and Founder of Riot Labs, claims flavor availability in the vape sector is a “massive opportunity” to support vapers who are quitting smoking. 

    Johnson commented:

    “Hundreds of thousands of adult smokers continue to use vaping, proven to be the most effective quitting tool, as part of their quitting journey. In a pivotal year, choice of flavor plays a crucial role in smokers turning to vaping to help them kick the habit and it’s the perfect moment to add new flavors to our Riot X range, to help consumers who are navigating new devices like refillables to maintain their quitting efforts.”

    Riot X launches with a pointed marketing campaign calling out the import vape market with “Made in our lab. Not in a sweatshop. No children were involved in the making of this product”.

    A significant 90% of the vape industry is based overseas. The fallout of Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on imports could see the UK flooded with cheap, unregulated, and potentially harmful vapes entering the UK market. 

    According to Riot Labs, its team of expert flavorists has spent years perfecting the blends of each e-liquid, testing thousands of variations to make something truly unique in its in-house lab in Milton Keynes.  

    Unlike many e-liquids that simply increase sweetness – masking individual notes – Riot X offers maximum intensity with maximum clarity, allowing every layer of the flavor profile to shine through.

    The six-strong range of new flavors will be available online and in retailers from today, including Cherry Colada, Blue Razz Sour Watermelon, Mango and Blackcurrant Gelato, Pink Lemon and Lime, Strawberry and Banana Marshmallow, Sour Grape Chew. 

    Nicotine strengths of 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg will be available starting from an RRP of £3.99.  

  • Riot Labs Introduces Five Limited-Edition Flavors

    Riot Labs Introduces Five Limited-Edition Flavors

    E-liquid producer Riot Labs unveiled five limited-edition flavors for its premium Bar EDTN e-liquid range. Joining the 40-strong range of premium Bar EDTN e-liquids, the limited-edition flavors are Black Grape Glacier, Pink Razz Citrus, Blueberry Acai Cooler, Apple Lime Chill, and Strawberry Melon Cooler. The new flavors also contain a hint of mint.

    “We spent all our budget on creating the best flavors imaginable for the limited edition range, leaving us nothing leftover for the marketing budget,” said Andy Dunn, marketing manager for Riot Labs. “So, excuse the unfinished ads, we’ll let the flavors do the talking!” 

    All flavors are available in four nicotine strengths including 0mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg, from a starting price of £3.99.

  • Riot Labs Launches Four New 0MG Flavors

    Riot Labs Launches Four New 0MG Flavors

    In advance of the UK’s June disposable vape ban and other global regulatory pressures, Riot Labs launched four new 0mg flavors for its popular Connex device. Ben Johnson, the founder and CEO of Riot Labs, said the launch of 0mg for the revolutionary device will give adults an easy-to-use alternative to disposables to quit smoking.

     “Amid increased government regulation on the sector and the impending disposables ban, we must not forget the hundreds of thousands of adult smokers who are currently using disposables, proven to be the most effective quitting tool, as part of their quitting journey, Johnson said. “Those who are now faced with having to learn an entirely new system, or an alternative method to help them quit smoking altogether. 

     “In a pivotal year, Connex 0mg will play a crucial role in smokers turning to vaping to help them kick the habit. The device has been designed to be as easy as possible to use, as easy as any disposable vape, featuring a clever closed-pod magnetic system and the ability to be recharged 500 times. Whilst the 4-strong range of 0mg flavors aims to provide a seamless transition off nicotine.”

    Connex 0mg launches with the campaign tagline “Cold Turkey Never Tasted So Good” and will be available in vape retailers and online starting today (May 14) at an RRP of £2.99 per flavor capsule, available in blueberry sour raspberry, pineapple ice, strawberry blueberry ice, and cherry cola. 

  • Riot Labs Launches “Supercharged” Line of Flavors

    Riot Labs Launches “Supercharged” Line of Flavors

    Riot Labs launched its “supercharged” Riot X flavor collection for 2025, featuring 12 maximum-intensity flavors that the company says will deliver the “purest, punchiest hit of flavor on the market.” The company says it has a “massive opportunity” to support vapers as June’s impending ban on disposable products in the U.K. nears.

    “Amid increased government regulation on the sector, we must not forget the hundreds of thousands of adult smokers who use vaping, proven to be the most effective quitting tool, as part of their quitting journey,” said Ben Johnson, CEO and Founder of Riot Labs. “In a pivotal year, choice of flavor plays a crucial role in smokers turning to vaping to help them kick the habit and it’s the perfect moment to launch Riot X to help consumers who will inevitably need to move to pods or refillables to maintain their quitting efforts.”

    According to Riot Labs, its team spent years perfecting the blends of each e-liquid to produce “maximum intensity with maximum clarity,” allowing every layer of the flavor to shine through.

    The flavors include: Blackcurrant & Passionfruit, Cherry Ice, Strawberry & Melon Chew, Sour Pineapple Razz, Blueberry & Peach Fizz, Orange & Raspberry Ice, Blueberry Sour Strawberry, Morello Cherry & Banana, Grape & Strawberry, Cola Ice, Sweet Mint and Dark Fruits. Nicotine strengths of 5mg, 10mg and 20mg will be available starting from an RRP of £3.99.  

  • ‘Boris Johnson’ to Keep Vaping Legislation on Westminster Agenda

    ‘Boris Johnson’ to Keep Vaping Legislation on Westminster Agenda

    Photo: Riot Labs

    E-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs delivered a life-sized replica of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Westminster in an attempt to get vaping legislation back on the agenda for the new Labour government.

    Ex Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tried to bring in some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules and wanted to ban disposable vapes, ban flavors and ban branding, which Riot Labs said would be “a disaster for the vape sector and the millions of adult smokers trying to quit cigarettes.”

    Rishi’s plan failed to become law before he called an election, but Labour recently expressing its commitment to the generational tobacco ban.

    A recent study conducted by One Poll and commissioned by the U.K. Vaping Industry Association found 83 percent of surveyed vapers say flavored vapes helped them ‘pack in their smoking habit’. It also found one in three respondents (an estimated 1.5 million vapers) believes a ban on flavors would lead them back to conventional cigarettes.

    The Royal College of Physicians too has warned against a wholesale limiting of flavors accessible to adults, arguing that “The use of flavors by adults trying to quit smoking is an integral part of the effectiveness of vaping as a quit aid.”

    “This year has been a tumultuous one for the vape sector, with the government trying—and ultimately failing—to rush through unjustified new vaping laws which would have been dangerous for millions of adult smokers trying to quit” said Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson.

    “The reality of Sunak’s vaping legislation is giving people less choice, less value and ultimately less reasons to quit smoking at all. Now Labour’s in power, smoking and vaping policy will be back on the lengthy to-do list and we’ll be taking the fight to policymakers to stand-up for the vape sector.”

    The Boris stunt comes a month after Riot Labs and Right Vape, Northampton vape shop, took aim at the vaping legislation with the opening of the “The Flavourless Vape shop.” Opened by Rishi Sunak lookalike Sanju, the launch of the shop took an unexpected turn when “Rishi Sunak” was egged by an angry member of the public who mistook him for the real prime minister.

    “We are massively in favor of laws to tackle youth vaping, such as a fully funded license scheme for retailers, but we strongly disagree on the government’s approach to a flavor ban,” said Ben Johnson.

  • Riot Labs Launches Carbon-Negative Disposable Vaporizer

    Riot Labs Launches Carbon-Negative Disposable Vaporizer

    Image: Riot Labs

    E-liquids producer Riot Labs claims to have launched the world’s first carbon negative disposable vaporizer, QBAR.

    Available in U.K. stores and online from Jan. 11, the compact device is Riot Lab’s first disposable product. The product will be available in several U.K.-manufactured flavors and three nicotine strengths. Each device offers 550 puffs—equivalent of 30 cigarettes—before requiring disposal.

    “The launch of QBAR, our first venture into disposables, and our new brand campaign, is all geared up to changing the status quo on smoking cessation, and continue to deliver on our mission to help people quit smoking,” said Ben Johnson, who founded Riot Labs in 2016.

    QBAR is made from three elements that are all 100 percent recyclable. The outer casing is made from PLA plastic cornstarch, which is decomposable, but will be recycled into clothing, vinyl records and material for 3D printing. The 420 MAH A battery will be being reused in future devices and other electronic devices. The mouthpiece, which contains the liquid, will be incinerated power going into the national grid

    Riot Labs is also launching a Riot Recycle program to make it simple for stores and customers to recycle their devices, of. Consumers can drop their QBARs off at Riot Recycling Bins in specialist stores for dismantling and recycling.

     Ambitiously aiming for Zero Waste, Riot Labs also plans to work with stores to track how much waste each has saved so they can continue to optimize and find ways to achieve further reductions.

    “From day one, it’s been our mission to help people quit smoking for good, through creating products that are better for people, and better for the planet,” said Johnson.

     “Everywhere you look, companies are making efforts to be greener but that isn’t happening fast enough in the vape sector. We’re proud to lead the way with the first carbon negative disposable device—with its unique benefits we believe it will make a big impact on people’s smoking cessation journeys.”