Vape shop 'farce' uncovered after Daily Record confronts store near Glasgow Queen Street station
An investigation reveals Scotland's vape shop registration scheme is flawed, allowing shops to register quickly with minimal safety checks.Summary
A Daily Record investigation has exposed significant flaws in Scotland’s vape shop registration scheme, revealing that businesses can register with minimal scrutiny and within a day be listed on the government’s register. The investigation focused on a shop near Glasgow Queen Street station, where staff were initially unable to identify the business owner. Following a reporter’s inquiry, the shop was quickly added to the register despite previously being unregistered. Concerns have been raised about the lack of inspections and the potential for unregulated shops, particularly regarding fire safety due to lithium batteries in vapes. Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney criticized the scheme as “farcical and useless,” highlighting the ease with which companies can dissolve and reappear, exploiting business rates relief and creating potential hazards in historic buildings. The investigation also revealed difficulties in holding individuals accountable and a lack of enforcement from Trading Standards and fire safety authorities. While the public health minister stated a commitment to improving the register, the current system provides a “false sense of regulation” with little practical oversight.
(Source：Daily Record)
