A new Government scheme aims to offer residents the power to take greater control of their high streets. The Prime Minister has announced the “Pride in Place” Programme, a new initiative that will allow locals to carry out a number of actions, including the potential restriction of vape shops on the high street.
We believe that specialist vape shops that are fully licensed and compliant have a space on the high street. Dive in to discover more about the reforms in question, and our reasoning for the importance of keeping reputable shops present in our public spaces.
What do the new reforms and powers include?
The Government recently announced the “Pride in Place” Programme, spearheaded by the new Communities Secretary, Steve Reed. The scheme will make it possible for councils and residents to take more control of local high streets. Powers will include several beneficial moves, such as allowing residents the right to buy community assets and to seize boarded up premises.
Local councils will also be able to disapprove of betting stores, fake barbers, American sweet shops and vape shops. This is not a ban on vape shops, but rather a way of giving communities more control over the shops present, which may impact the opening of new vape shops in certain places. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Reed explained his rationale behind the scheme, saying:
“We’ve got a lot of communities that feel they don’t have a voice. They’ve been ignored, they’ve been left behind and they’re not getting any investment.
“This is about supporting those communities to take back control, restore pride in the places where they’re living, and give them the power and resources to make their areas more successful.”
Why do local councils want to have more control over vape shops?
Local councils are introducing these new policies as a way to tackle the decline of the high street and unregulated retail spaces. Vape shops are just one of the areas targeted and the new powers are designed to make sure high streets are varied and beneficial to the people who use them. Rather than ban the opening of new vape shop, the scheme would allow residents the ability to veto proposed new shops.
We are fully in support of methods to regulate vape shops and are pleased to see that the Government is already bringing in new powers to crack down on illicit sellers or unregulated premises through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. However, we also believe in the place professional vape shops have on the high street.
What will happen if vape shops are restricted?
While the idea of creating thriving, more popular high streets is one that we back, it is also worth considering some of the potential negative outcomes of restricting vape shops.
- Our first concern is around criteria. Without clear and understandable guidelines, even reputable vape shops could face restrictions simply due to their proposed location or a false perception of their status.
- The reduction of vape shops on the high street may see customers pushed to the illicit side of the market. They could turn to unregulated sellers due to an inability to access professional vape shops.
- A restriction on vape shops may also result in the removal of regulated and safe alternatives for smokers who are looking to quit.
- Stopping new vape shops from opening could result in empty units on high streets, which is contradictory to many of the aims of the initiative.
The licensing scheme proposed in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would help to ensure that any vape shop found on the high street was legitimate, reputable and actively working closely with enforcement agencies. In theory, the introduction of these new measures would mean that there was no need to restrict vape shops.
What value do vape shops bring to the high street?
There are a lot of ways that professional vape shops can add value to the high street, we have identified a few key areas to consider.
Vape shops can increase footfall and help revitalise high streets
Credible vape brands can attract recurring footfall, build relationships with customers and support local employment. High streets are already facing challenges with empty shops and declining footfall in general and removing specialist retailers like vape stores could contribute to empty retail units. If the aims of the initiative are to create busier and more bustling high streets that offer benefits to the community, then restricting vape shops could run contrary to the intended outcomes.
Vape shops offer effective smoking cessation tools
Vape kits have been found to be 95% less harmful than smoking and to be an effective smoking cessation tool. Professional vape shops sell the kind of high quality kits that can help support people who are looking to quit smoking.
Vape shops offer specialist services that general retail cannot provide
In addition to supplying vape kits, specialist vape shops offer a variety of other services that general retail stores cannot. These include things such as product advice or maintenance and can even extend to advice for stopping smoking. At Evapo, all of our colleagues are NCSTC trained stop smoking advisors and are able to offer constructive, effective advice to those looking to make the transition from smoking to vaping. This information can make a big difference for those who are new to using vaping products, and is not something that can usually be offered in other locations like convenience store or supermarkets.
Some vape stores are involved in the Government swap to stop scheme
Some vape stores, including a number of our Evapo stores, are involved in the Government swap to stop scheme by supplying vape kits to those working with local stop smoking services.
We currently have 12 stores (15 clinics) that are working with their local council or stop smoking service to either dispense products or provide behavioural support. This is done through the Government’s swap to stop scheme or through a partnership with local stop smoking services. Four more stores are due to be entering into these partnerships in the near future.
So far in 2025 over 2,000 smokers have been supported with in-store vouchers dispensed and our top in-store clinic has achieved a 61% quit rate. A representative from one of the local authorities we have been working with had the following to say:
"Indeed, Evapo has been integral in [our] stop smoking in pregnancy programme, facilitating an in-store service in partnership with Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and the local area’s Smoking at Time of Delivery i.e., at time of giving birth, has fallen to half the national average (three percent compared to six percent)"
Without these physical retail stores to collaborate with it may be more difficult for many local authorities and stop smoking services to be able to provide their clients with the vaping products and information needed.
Conclusion
Professional vape shops help adult smokers switch from tobacco to safer alternatives, reduce the illicit market, and can contribute to employment and diversity on the high street.
Evapo stands with reputable vape store brands being allowed stores on the high street and we believe that the new reforms should be targeted at stores who are not reputable and do not abide by the restrictions and laws we have in place. .
Stay up to date with the various proposals, initiatives and legislations that could affect your local vape shop and the industry as a whole on our blog.
Sources:
Gov.co.uk – 24/09/2026
Telegraph.co.uk – 20/09/2026
Gov.co.uk – 19/08/2015
