Multiple UK Shops Surrender Licences Over Illegal Tobacco, Vape Sales

Several shops across England have surrendered or faced potential revocation of their licences due to the sale of illegal tobacco products, counterfeit cigarettes, and illicit vapes. In Dewsbury, the Ravensthorpe Off-Licence licence was surrendered before Kirklees Council could review it, following multiple test purchases of illegal cigarettes and discovery of illegal tobacco during searches. Similarly, Northampton’s Viva Mini Market voluntarily surrendered its alcohol and tobacco licence after authorities found over 600 packets of illegal cigarettes and significant amounts of illicit vapes, some stored in a nearby car. Chippenham Mini Market in Wiltshire was closed for three months under a closure order after undercover officers purchased illegal tobacco, though it has since reopened amid uncertainty about its future. Another Wiltshire shop, 7 Days in Trowbridge, faces a licence revocation hearing after repeated enforcement actions revealed ongoing illegal sales despite warnings and a suspension of its licence. Authorities in these cases emphasized the harm caused by illegal tobacco sales to communities and honest businesses, vowing continued enforcement and public health collaborations to combat the issue.