Parliament Discusses Barber Shops

According to Hansard, Labour MP Joe Powell said: “Small businesses on our high streets across my constituency, from Earl’s Court Road to Queensway, Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road, are fed up of being blighted by candy shops, low-grade souvenir shops, Harry Potter shops and even barbershops, with accusations of VAT and business rates evasion and even links to money laundering and serious organised crime.

“Can the Minister outline what steps the Department is taking, in conjunction with the Minister responsible for high streets, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency, to crack down on these operations and create a legitimate level playing field for our small businesses?”

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, responded: “I recognise that my hon. Friend has been very persistent on this issue, and he is entirely right to be so. We have been working with colleagues in the Home Office and the National Crime Agency to take action to crack down on illegitimate businesses that threaten to undermine the legitimate ones that exist on all of our high streets. 

“In March, the National Economic Crime Centre co-ordinated a three-week crackdown on barbershops and other cash-intensive businesses where there were concerns, visiting almost 400 premises and securing freezing orders over a series of bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.”

This followed Conservative MP Robert Jenrick claiming that “weird Turkish barber shops” are “chipping away at society”.

Naturally, the industry is worried that the recent disposables ban is playing into the hands the black market.

Anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health responded by conflating the vape industry with the tobacco companies: “The tobacco industry has a long history of falsely claiming that tobacco control policies will boost the illicit market. This is one of the many tactics they use to undermine tobacco control and to protect their profits from regulation.”

Jamie Strachan, Operations Director at VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, told Planet of the Vapes: “We welcome the Government’s recognition of the growing concerns around unregulated and illegitimate businesses operating under the guise of vape shops, including barbers, candy, convenience and souvenir outlets across UK high streets.”

“We fully support the efforts of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), the Home Office, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to identify and take enforcement action against those involved in tax evasion, money laundering, and other serious criminal activity. These rogue operators not only erode trust in legitimate retailers but also endanger consumers by distributing illicit and potentially unsafe products.

“At VPZ, we have consistently called for stronger enforcement of existing regulations and the introduction of a robust national licensing scheme for vape retailers. Such measures are vital to protect the environment, safeguard against youth vaping, uphold public health, ensure compliance, and create a level playing field for responsible businesses committed to the highest standards.

“As the UK’s leading vaping retailer, VPZ remains dedicated to working with Government, regulators, and industry partners to promote responsible retailing, support public health initiatives, and help revitalise our high streets through legitimate and transparent business practice.”

Jamie Strachan continued by addressing the availability of nicotine pouches: “We are committed to supporting a smoke-free future through responsible retailing and the promotion of harm reduction products to adult smokers looking to quit combustible tobacco.

“We recognise the growing concerns regarding the accessibility and marketing of nicotine pouches to young people. While nicotine pouches can serve as a reduced-risk alternative for adult smokers, we fully agree that these products must be properly regulated to prevent underage access and misuse.

“VPZ already enforces strict age verification protocols across all our stores and online platforms. We believe the current lack of age restrictions and product regulation surrounding nicotine pouches is a gap that urgently needs to be addressed in the UK Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

“It is vital that legislation keeps pace with innovation to protect young people, while ensuring adult smokers continue to have access to safer alternatives. Marketing restrictions alone will not put an end to youth uptake - these products should only be marketed within specialist smoke cessation retailers, towards adults who are looking to quit cigarettes.

“There must also be a ban on the sale of these products in inappropriate retail environments such as snack vans, barber shops, and candy stores, where age verification standards may be insufficient.”

Photo Credit:

• Photo by Beyza Yılmaz on Unsplash, cropped and resized

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.