The Number Of E-cigarette Stores in The UK Has Soared By 1,200%.

According to AA News Media on May 23rd: Starting from June 1st, the UK will ban the sale and supply of disposable e-cigarettes in stores and online. Researchers from Health Equity North, a collaboration between Newcastle University and the University of Manchester, warn that as e-cigarette stores, fast food restaurants, and betting shops expand, essential services such as banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, and public restrooms are disappearing. According to a new report released on Friday, high streets in England are undergoing significant changes, with e-cigarette stores rapidly replacing basic community services, especially in the poorest and northern regions of the country. Researchers from Health Equity North found that the number of e-cigarette stores across England increased by a staggering 1,200% between 2014 and 2024. The expansion is mainly concentrated in low-income areas, where the number of e-cigarette stores is more than three times that of affluent communities. Professor Clare Bambra, a public health expert at Newcastle University, said: "There are twice as many e-cigarette stores in the North as in the South. Now, there are fewer places to buy essential items on northern high streets, and fewer public restrooms and other amenities and resources." The report warns that as e-cigarette stores, fast food restaurants, and betting shops expand, essential services such as banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, and public restrooms are disappearing. Researchers believe that this shift is exacerbating existing health and economic inequalities in the UK. "People in deprived areas and the North are already facing worse outcomes," said Dr. Luke Munford, a health economist at the University of Manchester. "The sharp increase in fast food restaurants, e-cigarette stores, betting companies, and other facilities that harm health... may further widen the gap between the North and the South." The authors call on the government to take urgent action to help local authorities limit the spread of unhealthy businesses and restore essential services that support healthier and more connected communities. Meanwhile, starting from June 1st, the sale and supply of disposable e-cigarettes will be banned across the UK in both physical stores and online. This measure was first announced in January last year, aiming to curb the widespread use of e-cigarettes.