Vape Shop Licensing – Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Progress of the Bill through Parliament

The Bill has completed its stages in the House of Commons and is now under review in the House of Lords.

It includes provisions to create a mandatory licensing scheme for all retailers selling tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products.

Licensing Scheme Details (Emerging)

Premises Licence: Required to store, display, or sell regulated products.

Personal Licence: Required for individuals involved in retail sale or handling of these products.

The scheme will apply to both physical AND online retailers.

Timeline

Licensing regulations will be introduced after the Bill passes, likely in early to mid-2026.

A formal consultation will be held to define licence types, fees, and enforcement protocols.

Costs and Burdens

Fees are still under review, but may mirror alcohol licensing costs (ranging from £100 to £750 annually).

Retailers will face new administrative duties, including:

• Staff training
• Age verification systems
• Updated signage and record-keeping 3

Compliance Challenges

Retailers must prepare for:

1. Rolling age-of-sale restrictions (based on birth year, not just age)
2. Software updates to till systems
3. Annual changes to ID-check signage

NB: Concerns have been raised about regulatory clarity, especially for small businesses.

What Vape Retailers Should Do Now

1. Monitor updates from www.thelicensingguys.com
2. Prepare budgets for licensing and compliance costs.
3. Train staff on new age-verification protocols.
4. Review product lines to ensure future compliance with packaging and advertising rules.