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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent

Number of vape shops in England rises by almost 1,200% in a decade

Vapes displayed in a shop window beneath an illuminated sign saying 'vape shop'.
In 2014, only 33.8% of 317 local authorities in England had a vape shop, rising to 97.2% in 2024. Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer

The number of vape shops on high streets across England has increased by almost 1,200% over the past decade, while deprived areas have up to 25 times as many bookmakers and pawnbrokers as affluent ones, according to research.

In 2014, only 33.8% of 317 local authorities in England had a vape shop, rising to 97.2% in 2024. Similarly, in 2014 less than 1% of local authorities in England had 10 or more vape shops, rising to 28% in 2024.

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