Number of vape shops in the UK rises sharply again, with 233 new stores opening in 2023

As the UK plans to create a "smoke-free generation" by restricting sales to children, the number of independent vape shops in the UK has surged again over the past year.

According to data from the Local Data Company (LDC), which conducts detailed surveys of all retail areas, 233 independent vape shops opened in 2023, a significant increase from the 61 openings in 2022 and a net decline of 23 in 2021.

According to LDC, there are now a total of 3,573 specialist vape shops in the UK.

This data on specialist vape shops does not include most convenience stores, post office shops, newsstands, and corner shops that also offer electronic cigarettes and related devices.

According to data released in December by market research firm NIQ and trade magazine The Grocer, sales of vaping products in the UK increased by £897.4 million this year.

The Lost Mary brand, belonging to the Chinese electronic cigarette company Heaven Gifts, is the fastest-growing product in the UK, with sales increasing by £310.6 million compared to the previous year, according to the data.

NIQ stated that vaping products have also seen growth based on sales volume, while sales of cigarettes, cigars, and loose tobacco have decreased by £849.1 million and £393.1 million, respectively.

Experts say the vaping industry is one of the few direct beneficiaries of the cost of living crisis, as the average price of 20 cigarettes is now £14.57, while disposable vapes cost around £5, providing a comparable amount of vapor, and refillable devices with a similar amount of nicotine cost half that price.

However, the UK government plans to introduce stricter vaping regulations to protect children and gradually phase out cigarette sales.

The Tobacco and Vaping Bill aims to "create a smoke-free generation" by "restricting tobacco sales... and limiting the sale and marketing of vaping products to children."

The government stated that this will raise the legal age for tobacco sales by one year each year to prevent this generation and future generations from starting smoking.

The King's speech also promised "further action against youth smoking," with consultations currently underway on how to protect children and encourage adult smokers to use vaping as a cessation tool.

The consultations ask for opinions on whether disposable vapes (which are known to be preferred by children) should be banned or restricted, and whether more measures are needed regarding pricing.

Health activists have repeatedly stated that offering vapes at "pocket money prices" will encourage children to start smoking.

Other suggestions in the consultations include limiting the flavors and descriptions of vaping products to make them less appealing to children, ensuring that vaping products are not visible to children, and regulating the packaging and display of vaping products.

Other suggestions in the consultations include imposing instant fines on retailers selling products to minors and taking more measures to combat online sales.

Despite smoking being illegal for those under 18, one in five children have now tried vaping, with the number of children using vapes doubling over the past three years.

According to government documents, smoking costs the UK approximately £17 billion each year, with £10 billion of that coming from taxes on tobacco products.

These figures show that this cost far exceeds the £10 billion generated from tobacco product taxes.

By creating a smoke-free generation, calculations indicate that by 2040, smoking rates among those aged 14 to 30 could approach zero. John Dunne, the director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, stated: "Independent specialist vape shops in the UK play a crucial role in advising smokers on the best ways to quit and ultimately help them on their journey to zero nicotine.

Vaping has been proven to be the most effective way for smokers to quit, helping about 50,000 smokers each year, and the increase in the number of specialist vape shops reflects the growing demand from smokers wanting to quit a habit that claims 200 lives a day in the UK."