UK Study: Vape Shops in England Surge 1,200% in a Decade, Now Cover 97% of Regions

Core focus:

1.E-cigarette shops in England are rapidly increasing in low-income areas, severely impacting community base services.

2.The imbalance between health and economy is significantly worsening in the Northern regions of the UK.

3.The research also reveals significant regional and socio-economic disparities: the number of e-cigarette shops in the north of England is twice that of the south, and the density of shops in low-income areas is three times that of the most affluent areas.

4.Experts warn that this trend is altering the structure of commercial streets, exacerbating health inequalities, especially in impoverished communities where public service facilities are continuously decreasing.

According to The Guardian, the UK government has announced a complete ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes starting from June 1st. Recent studies have shown that the number of e-cigarette shops on high streets in England has increased by nearly 1,200% in the past 10 years. In 2014, only 33.8% of the 317 local authorities in England had e-cigarette shops, but by 2024, this proportion is expected to rise to 97.2%. Similarly, in 2014, less than 1% of areas in England had 10 or more e-cigarette shops, but by 2024, this proportion is expected to rise to 28%.

A report has found significant regional disparities in the convenience facilities on high streets across England, with the number of e-cigarette shops in the North of England being double that of other areas. The number of e-cigarette shops in the North of England has increased by a third (31%), while the South has seen an 18% increase. The number of e-cigarette shops in deprived areas is three times higher than in the least deprived areas.

Dr. Eman Zied Abozied, a researcher at the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, stated that this research indicates that commercial streets are becoming "no longer healthy, nor popular."

In 2024, England had the highest number of e-cigarette shops per 10,000 people：

The City of London, UK: 4.6

Blackburn and Darwen (Northwest): 1.7

Preston, Northwest: 1.6

Blackpool, Northwestern England: 1.2

Bolton, Northwest: 1.2

Lincoln, East Midlands: 1.2

Six dead in Southeast Sanit

Chesterfield, East Midlands: 1.1

Hyndburn, located in the northwest, has a population of approximately 1.1 million.

East Midlands Derbyshire Valley: 1