UK proposes mandatory shop licences to sell tobacco and vapes

The government this week announced proposals requiring shops in the UK to hold licences to sell tobacco, vapes and other nicotine products, part of a broader effort to crack down on rogue traders and reduce youth vaping. The move, set out as a call for evidence to shape the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, would for the first time make specific retail licensing mandatory and give enforcement authorities greater powers to close illegal sellers.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said the policy was intended to “close a major gap in the law, making it necessary for shops to hold a licence to sell tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.” Officials said the measures aim to protect children by targeting operators who sell illicit and inexpensive vapes, often marketed in brightly coloured packaging and sold alongside sweets and toys. The government estimates about 59,000 shops currently sell vapes across the UK.

Under the proposals, only businesses meeting licensing conditions would be permitted to sell tobacco and nicotine products. Retailers that flout the rules would face penalties including on-the-spot fines of £2,500 and potentially unlimited fines if prosecuted. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill,...