The Scottish Government has been urged to introduce a robust licensing system for vape and tobacco sales as part of its regulatory strategy.
Currently, retailers in Scotland are only required to register to sell tobacco and vaping products, with no licensing fees and limited enforcement mechanisms.
Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Green health spokesperson, argued that this lenient system has enabled vape sales to proliferate in unconventional locations such as barbers and phone shops.
Mackay is advocating for a licensing framework similar to alcohol sales, where local councils have the authority to refuse licenses and impose stricter penalties on non-compliant retailers. Unlike the current system, which relies on fixed penalty notices with limited financial impact, the proposed scheme would involve more stringent repercussions, including the potential for license revocation.
“The tobacco and vaping industries are doing a huge amount of damage to the health of people in Scotland and beyond, yet they remain very poorly regulated,” Mackay said. “A robust licensing scheme can tip the balance and ensure that we are taking action to put health before the profits of an industry which all too often targets young people and encourages addictive and harmful behaviours.”
Mackay highlighted the forthcoming ban on disposable vapes as a critical milestone for public health. However, she added that retailers must also contribute by providing recycling points and services, potentially as a condition of their license.
“Local authorities should have the power to refuse licences and introduce proper repercussions including the removal of a licence for retailers who flout the rules,” Mackay said. “We also need retailers to play their part by making their licence conditional on providing recycling points and services.”
Additionally, she proposed that a licensing fee could not only cover administrative costs but also generate revenue for local councils to support essential services.
