Comment by ajb

In the UK, the state has a conflicted relationship with mobile vending. On the one hand it is controversial to restrict commerce in a free society; on the other, there is an increasing aversion to being called to the door, or offered goods in the street. Technically you are would be required to have a "Pedlar's certificate", but there is a right to obtain one unless you are known to be of "bad character". "pedlar" is a very old word today hardly used except in the phrase 'drug pedlar'; and you cannot obtain such a certificate except by application at a police station, a rule unchanged since 1870. There are only a few thousand people with this licence and most street sellers probably don't have one (this does not include sellers at a fixed "pitch", who need a different (and more expensive and scarce) licence from the local council).