High street shake-up raises red flag for vape shops

Vape retailers have raised concerns over new government proposals that could allow councils to block the opening of specialist vape stores as part of a wider crackdown on “unwanted” shops.

Unveiling the Pride in Place programme today (25 September), prime minister Keir Starmer set out a package of reforms aimed at revitalising high streets and empowering communities. Among the measures, councils in England will be given new powers to say no to additional betting shops, vape stores and “fake barbers” in areas where they are already concentrated.

The initiative, backed by record investment, also includes compulsory purchase powers to bring boarded-up shops back into use, a new Community Right to Buy scheme for assets such as pubs and libraries, and requirements for local people to have a direct say in how regeneration funding is spent.

But the inclusion of vape stores in the list of shops that communities could block has drawn criticism from within the sector.

Jamie Strachan, operations director at VPZ, said: “We welcome the government’s ambition to revitalise high streets and empower communities to shape their local areas. We fully support investment in local pubs, libraries, and community spaces that bring people together.

“However, we are concerned by suggestions that specialist vape stores could be unfairly grouped alongside ‘unwanted’ businesses. Vape stores like ours play a vital role in public health by helping millions of adults move away from smoking, the UK’s leading cause of preventable death. Responsible, specialist retailers are part of the solution – not the problem.”

Strachan added that VPZ stores provide regulated products, expert advice, and safer alternatives for smokers, working in line with public health goals. He urged policymakers to consult with evidence and health experts as the Pride in Place programme develops.

“We work with communities, not against them, and are committed to supporting the government’s wider public health goals, including reducing smoking rates,” he added.

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) warned that the policy risks undermining public health by driving smokers back to cigarettes and fuelling the illicit vape market.

John Dunne, director general of UKVIA, said: “This announcement may make good headlines but we need to prioritise sound policy over sound bites when it comes to protecting public health.

“Vaping is the most effective method of helping adult smokers quit, poses only a tiny fraction of the health risks of smoking, yet nearly six-in-ten adults wrongly believe that it is as harmful or more harmful than smoking.

“Linking vape stores in the ‘unwanted shops’ category with the likes of betting shops and fake barbers will harm communities by driving up smoking rates.”

Dunne argued that decisions on vape retailing should be based on evidence, not emotion, and reiterated the trade body’s call for a compulsory retail licensing scheme. He said such a system could raise more than £50m annually to fund dedicated Trading Standards officers, while £10,000 fines for underage or illicit sales would deter rogue operators.

He added: “Creating unnecessary barriers to responsible vape retailing risks pushing people back to smoking or into the hands of the illicit market, which is what no one wants. We want to work with government, local authorities and communities to restore pride to the high street… but that means adopting a proportionate, evidence-based approach that targets those who flout the law.”

The government said the new powers were designed to give communities more control over high street make-up, and will form part of a wider Tobacco and Vapes Bill aimed at cracking down on “dodgy” vape retailers.