LGA urges Government to introduce retail licensing to strengthen vape enforcement

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to introduce a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and vape sellers as part of a package of measures designed to strengthen enforcement and prevent products being marketed to children. The call forms part of the LGA’s response to the Government’s consultation on tobacco and vape packaging, appearance and display regulations.

The association said new regulations must be drafted carefully to prevent manufacturers exploiting loopholes that could allow products to continue appealing to young people. While supporting proposals to restrict the display of vaping products, extend plain packaging requirements and tighten controls on flavour descriptions, the LGA warned that regulations will only be effective if they are practical to enforce.

Among its recommendations, the LGA is calling for a single national “sell-by” date for new products, a ban on the use of colours, numbers, codes and invented names that imply sweet or fruity flavours, and the extension of plain packaging rules across all tobacco products, vapes, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers. The organisation also wants tighter controls to cover online product listings and vape-related smartphone applications.

A key licensing-related proposal is the prompt introduction of a retail licensing regime. The LGA argues that councils face a significant enforcement challenge because many authorities currently have no comprehensive register of premises selling tobacco and vaping products. Without such a register, councils could be expected to inspect businesses without having clear visibility of who is trading and where.

The association also highlighted concerns about the financial impact of the new Tobacco and Vapes Act regulations. It said the forthcoming licensing and enforcement duties will create additional burdens for local authorities and has urged the Government to fully fund these responsibilities through an ongoing funding settlement. The LGA further argues that councils should continue to retain income from fixed penalty notices and licensing schemes to support enforcement activity.

The call comes against a backdrop of pressures on local authority Trading Standards services. The LGA noted that Trading Standards funding has fallen significantly over recent years while councils continue to face competing demands across essential services.