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Tag: vape shops

  • UK Removes Business Rates Relief for Vape Shops, Drawing Industry Criticism

    UK Removes Business Rates Relief for Vape Shops, Drawing Industry Criticism

    The UK government announced today (Oct. 28) that vape shops in England will lose eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and reduced Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) business rates multipliers effective April 1, 2027, under its Autumn Budget 2026. The Treasury estimates the changes, which also remove RHL multiplier eligibility for adult gaming centers, will generate £10 million annually. The government is raising the SBRR threshold for qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties to £18,000 in ratable value for full relief and £21,000 for tapered relief, measures it says will extend support to about 70,000 additional high street businesses. The government has not yet finalized the definition of a vape shop for the new rules.

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) criticized the decision, warning it could create a two-tier retail market in which specialist vape shops face additional costs while convenience stores selling the same products retain tax relief. “The Government risks creating a deeply unfair, two-tier vaping retail market in which responsible specialist retailers are financially penalized while other businesses selling exactly the same products continue to benefit from business rates relief,” said John Dunne, UKVIA director general. Dunne also questioned whether the Treasury’s projected £10 million in annual revenue justified the potential impact on legitimate retailers and jobs. UKVIA called on the government to clarify which businesses qualify and to introduce a retail licensing scheme that distinguishes compliant retailers from those selling illegal products or selling to minors.

    British e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs estimated that an independent vape shop with a ratable value of £6,000 could face an annual bill of about £2,300, while one valued at £15,000 could pay about £5,700. The company said these figures are illustrative calculations based on the 2026/27 small-business retail multiplier, and that the final impact depends on the rules implemented. Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson said the policy could penalize specialist retailers that check identification and help adult smokers quit while leaving other retailers selling vaping products eligible for relief. Online retailer Haypp also criticized the decision, as Dr. Marina Murphy, the company’s head of external affairs UK and scientific affairs, said the policy “unfairly stigmatizes responsible retailers” and called for a planned retail licensing scheme that would allow authorities to suspend or revoke licenses for businesses that break the rules.

  • 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.

  • UKVIA Accuses PM of Demonizing Vape Shops, Helping Alcohol

    UKVIA Accuses PM of Demonizing Vape Shops, Helping Alcohol

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government of unfairly targeting responsible vape retailers after announcing plans to review business rates relief for vape shops while granting a 20% business rates reduction to pubs, clubs and live music venues from April 2027. The government said the tax relief would be partly funded by reducing support for businesses it believes do not make a positive contribution to communities, specifically identifying vape shops.

    UKVIA Director General John Dunne said the policy unfairly demonizes specialist vape retailers that help adult smokers switch away from cigarettes while favoring venues that sell alcohol. He argued that describing vape shops as “anti-social businesses” risks reinforcing the misconception that vaping is as harmful as smoking and could undermine tobacco harm reduction efforts. The association also warned that legitimate retailers are already facing pressure from the UK’s new Vaping Products Duty, due to take effect in October.

    The association is calling on the government to withdraw its characterization of vape shops, review the proposed business rates changes, and fast-track a national vape retailer licensing scheme under the Tobacco and Vapes Act. UKVIA said it supports stronger enforcement against retailers selling to minors or offering illicit products but argues policymakers should distinguish compliant specialist vape shops from rogue operators rather than applying blanket measures across the sector.