Growing opposition to the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill
13th Aug 2025
Opposition to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is rapidly gaining ground on multiple fronts, with the UK’s convenience sector leading the charge.
As for example Grocery Trader have reported, the Protect Your Store, Have Your Say campaign has now sent over 1,000 letters to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, warning the Bill threatens store safety, jobs, and the livelihoods of responsible retailers.
With more than 437,000 people employed in 50,000+ convenience stores nationwide, campaign founder Paul Cheema says the legislation punishes those who follow the rules while failing to tackle the illicit trade:
“We want to reduce smoking, but not at the expense of staff safety or our livelihoods.”
Black-market and rising costs
Retailers already face rising costs, growing black-market tobacco sales, and increasing abuse of shopworkers. Critics argue the Bill, based on a flawed impact assessment, risks deepening these problems.
Multi-front concerns
The convenience sector isn’t the only one urging the government to pause and rethink before it’s too late. Public health policy analysts, business groups, and concerned MPs have already raised a multi-front pushback.
Dr. Marina Murphy, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at Haypp Group says:
“Great intentions alone don’t guarantee good outcomes—regulations crafted without understanding the real world can not only miss their mark, but can drive the very problems they aim to stop”
