11th August 2026
The UK government has launched a regulatory crackdown to curb the proliferation of betting shops, 24-hour gaming centres, and vape stores, granting councils greater control over planning and licensing.
While planning reforms and new "aim to permit" revocations apply across Great Britain, distinct strategies exist, with England utilizing planning restrictions and emergency closure powers.
Meantime Scotland focuses on public health measures like display bans and a strict, register-based compliance system to manage illicit sales.
New Government Actions
Planning Permission for Vapes: New laws require every new shop selling vapes and e-cigarettes to apply for specific planning permission from their local council (England only).Stricter Definitions: The definition of a vape shop is being tightened so businesses cannot bypass rules by pretending to be general convenience stores.
Scrapping "Aim to Permit": The government is revoking the 2005 Gambling Act's "aim to permit" rule, which previously made it very difficult for local councils to refuse new betting shops despite community objections (Great Britain-wide).Gaming Centres Controlled: New 24-hour adult gaming centres with slot machines will also need formal planning permission to open.
Longer Closure Orders: Police and local authorities are getting powers to extend emergency closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops linked to illegal tobacco, illicit trading, or organized crime from 6 months up to 12 months (England and Wales).
In Scotland, the UK government’s newly announced high street crackdown applies directly to betting shops, but the new planning laws for vape shops do not automatically apply. Because planning and public health enforcement are largely devolved matters, the powers are split between Westminster and Holyrood.
The specific division of these new powers applies to Scotland as follows:1. Betting Shops (Great Britain-wide Powers)Scrapping "Aim to Permit": The reversal of the "aim to permit" licensing rule under the 2005 Gambling Act applies across all of Great Britain, including Scotland.The Impact: Scottish local councils will no longer be legally obligated to lean toward approving new betting shop licences. This grants Scottish local authorities a direct veto to reject new betting outlets if there are strong community objections or an oversaturation of gambling venues on the local high street.
2. Vape Shops & Gaming Centres (Devolved Powers)Planning Restrictions: The newly announced rule requiring all new vape shops and 24-hour Adult Gaming Centres to seek explicit planning permission is strictly for England (and parts of Wales).The Situation in Scotland: Because planning law is devolved to the Scottish Government, Scottish councils do not automatically get these specific planning vetoes. However, the Scottish Parliament has been pursuing its own aggressive, separate crackdowns on the vape industry.
Scotland’s Separate Actions on Vapes
While Scotland is not covered by the UK government's new planning class rules for vape stores, the Scottish Government is targeting problem shops using different legislation:
The Display Ban: Under current proposals, Scotland is moving toward a complete ban on the public display of vapes. Similar to tobacco laws, Scottish corner shops and e-cigarette retailers will be forced to keep vapes hidden out of sight.
Plain Packaging: Scottish ministers are pushing ahead with requirements for vapes to be sold in plain packaging to destroy their appeal to children.
Single-Use Ban: Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, has already enacted a strict ban on the sale and supply of all single-use, disposable vapes.
In Scotland, local councils are heavily reliant on Trading Standards teams and the mandatory Scottish Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Register to combat illicit trading.
However, Scottish local authorities face a major legislative hurdle: unlike councils in England and Wales, Scottish councils do not possess the automatic "Closure Order" powers used to quickly shut down physical shops suspected of being fronts for serious organised crime.
Scottish councils utilize several existing enforcement and licensing mechanisms to manage illicit traders:
1. The Scottish Tobacco and Vape Register
The Mechanism: Any shop in Scotland wishing to sell tobacco or vapes must, by law, be registered on the Scottish Tobacco Register.
The Power: If a business is caught repeatedly selling illegal/counterfeit goods, or selling to minors, Scottish councils can apply for a Tobacco/Vaping Banning Order. This strips the retailer of their right to sell these products completely. Operating without registration or while banned is a criminal offence.
2. Test Purchasing and Raids
The Mechanism: Working under the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP), council Trading Standards officers routinely deploy underage volunteers to conduct "test purchases".The Power: When a rogue shop is identified as selling illicit goods (such as non-compliant over-capacity vapes or untaxed cigarettes), councils execute joint raids with Police Scotland and HMRC. They use existing statutory powers to seize all illegal stock and disrupt the supply chain.
3. Escalating Financial Penalties
The Mechanism: Councils issue escalating on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to retailers caught violating trading laws.
The Power: These financial penalties target both the business owner and the specific staff member who made an illegal sale. Continued non-compliance triggers formal criminal prosecution through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.4. Overprovision Policies (Alcohol and Gambling)The Mechanism: For businesses requiring alcohol or gambling licences, Scottish Licensing Boards utilize "overprovision" frameworks.
The Power: If a council determines that a specific high street has reached a saturation point for specific types of licensed premises, they can enforce a blanket refusal on all new applications in that area to stop problem clusters from growing.
The Ongoing Debate:
A Call for Harder Powers
Because Scottish councils currently cannot issue emergency 3-to-12-month Closure Orders on premises, Trading Standards bodies like the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) have warned that criminal gangs often simply reopen raided shops within hours. Former Scottish ministers and local authorities are actively pressuring the Scottish Government to pass emergency legislation mirroring England’s closure laws to shut down these rogue entities permanently.
You can report a suspected illicit shop in Scotland through three main channels, depending on whether you want to remain anonymous or speak directly to a consumer advisor.
1. Completely Anonymous Online Reporting
If you suspect a shop is selling illegal tobacco, counterfeit goods, or non-compliant vapes, you can report them anonymously.
The SCOTSS Reporting Tool: The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) offers a free, dedicated SCOTSS Anonymous Reporting Form specifically for flagging illegal tobacco and vape sales.
Local Council Portals: Many Scottish local authorities host their own anonymous tip-off forms. For example, you can submit details directly via the Edinburgh Council Trading Standards Form or the West Lothian Council Anonymous Reporting Form if the business is operating in those regions.
2.
Telephone and Consumer Helplines
If you prefer to speak to someone to log your intelligence, you cannot phone local Trading Standards departments directly for general complaints. Instead, all initial reports are handled by Scotland's national consumer partner:
Advice Direct Scotland: Call the free national helpline on 0808 164 6000.Online Portal: You can log the details online at the Consumer Advice Scotland Website.
How it works: They will formally record the intelligence and securely route it directly to the correct local authority Trading Standards team for investigation.
3. Reporting to Other Enforcement Authorities
If the shop is selling dangerous goods that extend beyond traditional counterfeit or age-restricted retail, alternative pathways exist:
Police Scotland: For shops suspected of acting as front operations for organized crime or selling completely illicit weapons, call 101.Food Standards Scotland: If the business is distributing illegal, fake, or unsafe food or alcohol products, report it directly to Food Standards Scotland.
Information to Prepare Before Reporting To ensure Trading Standards officers can successfully take action, try to provide as much of the following information as possible: The business name and exact street address. The specific items being sold (e.g., oversized vapes, untaxed/foreign cigarettes, fake designer goods).Where the stock is kept if you observed it (e.g., hidden under the counter, under floorboards, or brought in from a vehicle out back).Times and dates when the illegal trading is most active.