At the beginning of the year, the government announced its plans to implement a disposable vape ban in the UK. This will accompany a new tax targeting nicotine e-liquid and potential flavour and packaging restrictions.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced to parliament earlier this year, following an extensive 2023 smoking and vaping consultation in which almost 70% of respondents were in favour of disposable vapes being banned.
Considering that more than 7.7 million disposable vapes were sold every week in 2023 (double the number sold in 2022), the upcoming ban has implications for adult vapers, especially smokers who are using vapes as smoking cessation tools, and for the vaping industry. Learn more about the reasons for the ban, its implications, and available alternatives for vapers.
The Reason for the Ban
Two key motivations drive the government’s planned disposable vape ban: youth vaping and environmental concerns. Here’s the gist of it:
Youth vaping: The astronomical rise in youth vaping is the main reason for the government’s ban on disposable vapes. ASH figures indicate that the number of children who use vapes has increased almost twofold in the past two years. 69% of 11- to 17-year-olds said they used disposable vapes. Colourful vape kits and candy flavours are seen as being particularly appealing to children.
Environmental concerns: The number of disposable vapes thrown away per week skyrocketed from 1.3 million in 2022 to almost 5 million in 2023. The overwhelming majority of these vapes end up in landfills or the environment. While single-use vapes are recyclable, only 17% of vapers said they recycled theirs at a local recycling centre or shop. According to Greenpeace, more than 40 tonnes of disposable lithium batteries thrown away in 2023 would have been enough to power 5,000 electric cars.
Are Vapes Being Banned?
With so much being said in all sorts of forums, some vapers may be confused about the upcoming ban. We want to emphasise that reusable vapes are not being banned.
While vapers may be affected by the accompanying nicotine e-liquid tax through higher prices, and some may eventually be affected by other potential restrictions, you can still savour delicious flavours and chase clouds with reusable vaping devices available here at Legion of Vapers.
Key Dates: When are Disposable Vapes Being Banned?
The disposable vape ban will come into effect on 1 April 2025. Backed by the Labour and Conservative parties, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is expected to be passed into law toward the end of 2024. Should this unfold as expected, the ban’s implementation should begin by early 2025.
Retailers and the industry will receive a six-month period of grace to adopt the new regulations and phase out their stock of disposable vapes. If this happens as planned, you shouldn’t see disposable vapes on the shelves from mid-2025.
How the Ban Affects Adult Vapers
If you vape purely for enjoyment, you should be largely unaffected by the upcoming disposable vape ban. However, it’s a different matter for adults who use single-use vapes as a tool to stop smoking cigarettes.
One concern about the ban is that adults trying to make the switch who aren’t ready to commit to using a reusable vape or who don’t know about alternatives may return to smoking cigarettes after the disposable vape ban is implemented.
Another concern is a surge of disposable vapes on the black market. While the illicit vape market may offer relatively easy access to disposable vapes after the ban, the safety of those devices is far from guaranteed. A ban on flavoured e-liquids could exacerbate the problem by driving vapers to buy potentially dangerous unregulated flavoured e-liquids on the black market.
What Are the Alternatives to Disposable Vapes?
If you’re going to be affected by the disposable vape ban coming into effect at the beginning of April 2025, don’t panic. There’s more to vaping than disposable vapes.
With the vast selection of hassle-free options similar to disposable vapes available at Legion of Vapers, you’re sure to find an ideal replacement for your single-use devices. Refillable pod kits and prefilled pod kits are two great options to consider. Let’s take a closer look:
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The Economic and Industry Impact of the Ban
Vapers aren’t the only ones who will be impacted by the UK disposable vape ban. The vaping industry, including manufacturers and retailers, is bracing itself for a seismic shift. Disposable vapes account for £973 million (83%) of all vape sales in the UK’s £1.2 billion market, which means the industry could face a potentially significant loss of revenue.
The potential revenue losses could have the knock-on effect of businesses downsizing, leading to job losses. Even the government wouldn’t be spared the ban’s effects, which could lead to a large reduction in tax revenue.
Arguably, those most affected by the ban are adults who use disposable vapes as smoking cessation devices. According to ASH, vapes have been the most popular smoking cessation aid among people who have successfully stopped smoking cigarettes in the last five years. More than half of the people (approximately 2.7 million) who stopped smoking in the last five years said they used a vape to quit.
Of the 5.6 million adults who vape in the UK, 53% of whom stopped smoking, 39% continue to smoke cigarettes, and 8% have never smoked. Some transitioning smokers may return to smoking cigarettes if they cannot purchase single-use vaping devices or flavoured e-liquids.
Addressing the Black Market Problem
As we mentioned earlier on, the disposable vape ban and the potential e-liquid flavour ban are likely to lead to a surge of single-use devices and flavoured vape juices on the already-burgeoning black market. The ease with which children can obtain vapes highlights the need for better enforcement of age-verification laws and strategies to combat illegal sales.
The current £100 spot fines and maximum £2500 penalties for English and Welsh shops that sell tobacco or vapes to children are little deterrent to those who stand to profit by selling illicit products or disposable vapes to children. Thus far, the government has ignored the UK Vaping Industry Association’s (UKVIA) suggestions of industry-lead licensing and £10,000 fines.
Instead, the government has pledged £30 million annually to combat underage and illicit trading. Given that these funds are to be divided between HMRC, Trading Standards, and Border Force, the government’s response is not likely to make much of an impact.
Vaping Regulations Beyond the Ban
While an e-liquid ban and vape design and packaging restrictions aren’t included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill or disposable vape ban, they could be instituted at a later date. Several countries worldwide have already banned or limited various vape juice flavours, and the UK may follow suit.
Ministers are debating whether to limit e-liquid flavours to fruits, menthol, mint, and tobacco, banning candies, desserts, and other sweet flavours in a bid to make them less appealing to younger demographics.
The government may also ban brightly coloured e-liquid packaging that can remind children of desserts and sweets, as this is seen as an enticement to start vaping. If such a ban is instituted, it may go as far as banning colourful vape device packaging and placing restrictions on retailers’ vape product displays. This would lead to these products being stocked and sold similarly to cigarettes, which means keeping them out of sight and separate from products that appeal to children, such as sweets.
If these bans and restrictions are imposed, the vaping industry might hope to adapt to them by continuing to propose tougher age-verification measures and vape retailer licensing schemes that would enable the industry to regulate itself.
How to Prepare for the Ban as a Vaper
There are a few things that you can do as a vaper to prepare for the disposable vape ban set to come into effect in April next year. Follow these practical tips to make sure you’re ready to switch from single-use to pre-filled or refillable pod or other kits:
Explore the options: Start exploring reusable vaping devices now to become familiar with the transition from disposables to reusables.
Know where to look: Choose Legion of Vapers as your number one stop for reliable, top-quality alternatives to disposable vapes.
While the ban on disposable vaping devices may be an inconvenience for some vapers, it’s important to remember that vaping remains a valuable smoking cessation tool. If you’re using disposable vapes to help quit smoking, you’ll find plenty of easy-to-use, flavourful alternatives at LoV.
Transition to Reusable Vaping Products
Many vapers undoubtedly are going to be unhappy when disposable vapes are banned in the UK on 1 April 2025, even though these products may still be available for a few more months. While the ban may help to address some of the environmental concerns around single-use vapes, it’s likely to drive some vapers to sourcing illicit devices on the black market. This surge on the black market is likely to grow stronger if the government also bans certain e-liquid flavours.
If you’re looking at saying goodbye to single-use devices and transitioning to reusable vaping products, it’s important to do so smoothly. Choose refillable or pre-filled pod kits for the easiest transition, a lower environmental impact, and cost savings in the long run.
Explore your options and stay informed as the ban approaches. We’ll ensure you’re not only up-to-date on the latest industry changes but also have access to the best quality legal vaping kits, mods, e-liquids, and everything else you need for a satisfying vaping experience.