Liverpool shop's licence revoked for selling illegal e-cigarettes

Key Points:

·Liverpool store's license revoked for selling illegal e-cigarettes

·Liverpool City Council launched an investigation and successfully applied for a closure order

·The council seized illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes worth a total of £378,000 (approximately $510,000) in 2024.

2Firsts, September 22, 2025 - According to Asian Trader's report on September 20, a local shop in West Derby, United Kingdom had its business license revoked by the court for selling illegal e-cigarettes. The Alcohol and Tobacco Department of Liverpool City Council launched an investigation after suspecting the shop was selling unregulated e-cigarettes.

An investigation team discovered a large number of hidden e-cigarettes in the store, with a market value of £3,500 (approximately $4,718). Due to the store owner ignoring warnings about illegal sales, the council successfully applied for a closure order at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. However, when the closure notice was delivered to the store, the only staff member on duty was found to be unauthorized to work in the UK. The store's license has now been revoked to prevent further criminal activity.

Unregulated e-cigarettes may contain prohibited ingredients, posing serious health risks to users. The 2016 Tobacco and Related Products Regulations set clear guidelines for the sale of e-cigarettes: e-liquid cartridges must have a maximum capacity of 2 milliliters, refill containers a maximum capacity of 10 milliliters, and nicotine content must not exceed 20 milligrams per milliliter. Additionally, as of June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell disposable e-cigarettes under the 2024 Environmental Protection Act (disposable e-cigarette) (England).

In the past fiscal year, the City Council seized over 32,000 illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes from various retailers, with a total value of £378,000 (approximately $510,000). Harry Doyle, member of the Cabinet for Health, Welfare, and Culture, stated, "The regulations surrounding the sale of e-cigarettes are designed to protect the public from potential harmful substances. We will continue to investigate businesses that violate these regulations and remove illegal e-cigarettes from the market to prevent harm to individuals.

He further pointed out, "During the investigation process, we discovered other illegal activities, which is completely unacceptable. We hope this action will send a message to other companies: we will take necessary measures to ensure community safety. E-cigarettes can serve as a beneficial alternative to smoking, but must be purchased from reputable retailers.