The United Kingdom government has confirmed that the sale of disposable vapes will be banned in England and Wales starting June 2025, a move aimed at safeguarding children’s health and addressing environmental concerns.
This decision, initially proposed by the previous government in January but delayed due to the general election, follows concerns about the rising popularity of vapes among young people and the environmental impact of discarded devices.
Officials have emphasized that this ban is intended to align efforts across all UK nations, with Wales confirming its intention to implement the ban at the same time as England.
This cooperative approach will ensure consistent enforcement across borders, as noted by Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies.
Disposable vapes, which have become particularly appealing to younger users due to their colourful packaging and affordability, have been cited as a key factor in the increase in youth vaping.
Though it is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18, the products have grown popular among teenagers.
Public health minister, Andrew Gwynne, explained that banning disposables would help curb this trend by making vapes less accessible and less attractive to children.
“Reducing the appeal of vapes to children and keeping them out of the hands of vulnerable young people” is a primary goal of the legislation.
From an environmental perspective, the government’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) has raised alarms about the waste created by these products.
Defra explained that vape usage in England has skyrocketed by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, with about 9% of the public now using these devices.
Of particular concern is the improper disposal of disposable vapes, which are often discarded in landfills where they leak harmful chemicals such as lithium and mercury, posing a significant environmental threat.
Batteries from vapes also cause frequent fires in waste-processing facilities.
In 2023 alone, nearly five million single-use vapes were discarded weekly in England, a fourfold increase compared to the previous year.
Defra estimates that in 2022, discarded vapes contained over 40 tonnes of lithium, enough to power thousands of electric vehicles.
Mary Creagh, a minister with a focus on reducing waste, highlighted the environmental damage caused by these products, describing them as “extremely wasteful” and a contributor to pollution in cities and towns. Despite being cheaper upfront (priced around £5), disposable vapes often end up costing more than refillable vape kits over the long term.
However, not everyone supports the ban. John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, voiced concerns that this move could increase illegal sales of vaping products.
He explained that the existing black market for vapes may be exacerbated by the ban, overwhelming authorities who are already struggling to regulate illegal sales.
Dunne argued that rather than a ban, the government should consider introducing a licensing scheme that would enforce mandatory age verification and other restrictions for retailers and distributors.
In addition to the UK, several other countries have taken steps to restrict or ban disposable vapes, including Ireland and Belgium, which have recently announced similar plans.
Nations like New Zealand, Australia, India, South Korea, and Brazil already have restrictions in place.
The ban on disposable vapes is separate from the government’s broader initiative to phase out smoking altogether, including plans to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 2009.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that a bill aimed at enacting this measure would be introduced in parliament shortly.
The planned vape ban is designed to give retailers time to adjust, with legislation to be enacted on June 1, 2025, aligning with similar measures across the devolved governments of the UK.
