Poppleston Allen joins Vape licensing debate

On Wednesday 26th November, Poppleston Allen Managing Partner Graeme Cushion joined a panel of leading voices at the 2025 UKVIA National Forum to discuss the potential of introducing a licensing regime for the vaping sector.

The session, entitled Changing the Regulatory Mindset: Grounding vape policy in evidence, focused on The Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament and could become law from 2026 onwards.

The Bill hands sweeping new powers to the health secretary, powers Wes Streeting could soon inherit. How he chooses to use them will have lasting implications for harm reduction and public health.

Graeme discussed the framework of the Licensing Act 2003, highlighting potential similarities in both the application process for a premises licence, ongoing enforcement action for licensed vape premises and how licensing authorities could be involved.

Graeme was joined by:

• John Dunne, Director General, UKVIA
• Clive Bates, Director, Counterfactual Consulting
• Dr Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, Institute of Economic Affairs
• Mark Oliver, Business Hub Manager, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Trading Standards

For further information please contact Carl Weston, Partner and Head of Marketing on 0115 953 8500