by Bill Heaney
New polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals three in 5 people want to see more power to control the number of vape shops on their high street, with the figures even higher among Scots, as the party calls for a crackdown on cowboy vendors and efforts to restore our high streets.
Polling from Savanta shows that 40% of Brits strongly support local communities having more control over the number of vape shops in their area, while 20% somewhat support having more control. Among Scots, these figures rise to 51%, strongly supporting.
Concerns have grown as the number of vape shops on British high streets has skyrocketed by 1,200% in the past decade. Over the past three years, nearly 5 million illegal vapes were seized in the UK, whilst the National Crime Agency has identified vape shops as one of the primary “cash-intensive” businesses used by organised crime groups to launder money.
Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out plans for:
- Reviewing the safety of vape shops on high streets and the risk they could pose to their neighbours and critical local infrastructure.
- Backing restrictions on the marketing of vapes to reflect their role as a tool for smoking cessation and limit their appeal to non-smokers and young people, removing flavourings and influencer promotions, introducing stricter rules for retailers, revamping public health campaigns, and backing further research into their health effects.
- Giving councils the power to shut shops refusing to pay their business rates and change the law to allow for the pursuit of landlords who turn a blind eye.
- Overhauling outdated Business Improvement District (BID) legislation so those who pay get a proper say.
Daniel Khan-O’Malley, who tops the Glasgow regional list for the party, said: “High streets are at the heart of our communities, but too often they are being hollowed out and taken over by vape shops – some of which are backed by decidedly dodgy business practices.
“We need to give our brilliant high streets a chance to thrive, and local people also deserve a say about how their local shopping areas look and feel.
“Cowboy vape shop vendors are booming, and the police and trading standards are having to seize thousands of illegal vapes. Some have been found to contain over 10 more nicotine than is allowed – the equivalent of 560 cigarettes in a single vape. We need an urgent clampdown on this industry now to help save our high streets.
“The devastating fire in Glasgow (see picture at the top of the page) has left another scar on our city centre. People want to know that this can’t happen again, and this poll shows that they want stronger enforcement and protections for their high streets.
“We will review the safety of vape shops and the risk they pose to their neighbours, give councils the power to shut shops refusing to pay their business rates, overhaul outdated BID legislation and change the law to allow for the pursuit of landlords who turn a blind eye to dangerous illegal conduct by their retail tenants.”