Disposable vapes make up the majority of the vape industry, with millions of devices being sold each week. Regardless of their benefits to smokers, the government introduced the idea of a ban earlier in the year in January.
The ban is intended to protect children's health and prevent environmental damage. We agree with both of these objectives; however, we don’t believe that a ban is the best way to do it. Retailers such as ourselves have supported the proposal of a vape licensing scheme that would aim to support both objectives while protecting smokers.
Unfortunately, the government has gone ahead with an all-out ban on single-use disposable vapes, which has the potential to boost the black market and push smokers back to harmful cigarettes. Let’s go ahead and discuss the ban and see how it can affect millions of vapers and what they can do once the ban is in place.
What is the Disposable Vape Ban, and when is it?
The disposable vape ban is legislation prohibiting the sale of all single-use vapes. They will no longer be sold in any shop or online retailer. The aim is to reduce underage vaping and stop waste produced by these devices.
The UK government has confirmed that legislation will be in place from the 1st of June 2025 to ban the sale of single-use disposable vapes.
E-cigarette use among youth has fluctuated in recent years. However, vaping habits among children have decreased from 2023 to 2024 for both ever vaping (tried once) and currently vaping, from 20% to 18% and 7.6% to 7.2%, respectively. A thing to note is that ever smoking (tried once) is now at the same rate as ever vaping at 18%. Trustingly, the ban will reduce the number of youth vapers; however, this may not be true for smoking rates among children, with no significant enforcement of the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors.
Another important finding from this research conducted by Action on Smoking and Health is that 48% of current youth vapers get their vapes from shops, and awareness of e-cigarette promotion is the highest in shops with 55%, with the overall awareness of e-cigarette promotions increasing from 2023.
The implications of these statistics are clear: rouge retailers have been the main concern with youth vaping. Children have been able to buy vapes without being asked for an ID for age-checking, which lets them have access to vapes with many illegal options. High-street shops have been the main culprits, with millions of illegal vapes being seized at the border and from rouge retailers year after year. The main concern is that with this ban, will the sale of vapes to minors in shops decrease, or will it continue as it has with these already illegal devices?
As mentioned before, the Retail and Distributor Licensing Framework for the Vape Sector, put forward by fellow online retailer Vape Club, addressed both objectives in the blueprint, carefully considering funding and legal logistics.
In summary, the licensing scheme would protected the youth by enforcing the already-in-place laws prohibiting the sale of age-restricted products to underage people, cracking down on the sale of illicit vapes and punishing rouge retailers that break the law.
As always, Vape UK will remain a dedicated vaping advocate and a responsible vaping retailer, but regarding the already unfortunate figures when it comes to the sale of illegal vapes to children, we will have to see how the figures change once the ban comes into effect.
Are all types of Disposable Vapes being banned?
The following is the description of a ‘single-use vape’ set out by the government in the draft of the legislation.
(1) A single-use vape is a vape which is not designed or intended to be re-used (a “single-use vape”) and includes any vape which is—
(a) not refillable,
(b) not rechargeable, or
(c) not refillable and not rechargeable.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a vape is not refillable unless it is designed to include—
(a) a single-use container (vape pod) which is separately available and can be replaced by an individual user in the normal course of use, or
(b) a container (vape pod) which can be refilled by an individual user in the normal course of use.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a vape is not rechargeable if it is designed to contain—
(a) a battery which cannot be recharged, or
(b) a coil which is not separately available and intended to be replaced by an individual user in the normal course of use, including any coil which is contained in a single-use cartridge or pod which is not separately available and cannot be replaced by an individual user in the normal course of use.
(4) For the purposes of this regulation, “separately available” means available for purchase by an individual user.
Essentially, this means that a vape with a non-replaceable pod, coil, and/or a non-rechargeable battery is a single-use vape and, therefore, falls under the ban.
This includes all regular single-use disposable vapes and the majority of big puff vapes.
Are Flavoured Vapes getting banned?
As of right now, flavours are not getting banned; however, the (still in debate) Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024 will bring forward legislation that provides powers to ministers to regulate the following:
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The flavours and contents of vaping products
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The packaging and product presentation of vaping products
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Point of sale displays of vaping products
This will affect vape products and flavours, including e-liquids. In addition, the 2026 UK Vaping Tax, announced in the Autumn Budget of 2024, will also affect the price of e-liquids based on their nicotine content (if it comes into power). This isn’t exactly what you want to see from a government that wants the country to be Smokefree by 2030.
Let’s focus on what is set in stone: the end of single-use disposable vapes. Let’s not worry, though; you still have plenty of options when it comes to finding yourself a reliable smoking cessation tool.
What isn’t getting banned?
All pod vape kits, both prefilled and refillable variants, are here to stay and keep you off cigarettes. These kits are the perfect vaping companions for those new to vaping and those who are upgrading from disposables.
Prefilled pod vape kits are the closest kits you can get to disposables; they come with 2ml prefilled, replaceable pods in your favourite disposable vape flavours in the same 2% strength and a rechargeable battery device that keeps you vaping all day long to help you with your nicotine cravings.
Refillable pod vape kits are not so different, however, they open up the door to the endless world of vape liquids. With replaceable, refillable vape pods, you can choose your own flavour and strength to make your vape experience as close to perfect as possible.
Here are some popular examples of Pod Vape Kits
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Built-in battery, Built-in coil, Variable power, MTL, Pod style
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Berry, Blueberry, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Cola, Grape, Guava, Gummy, Ice, Kiwi, Lemon, Lemonade, Lime, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Sour, Strawberry, Watermelon
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SPECIAL OFFER
Double Reward PointsFree 2 + 10ml PodApple, Banana, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Cherry, Citrus, Cola, Grape, Ice, Lemon, Lime, Mango, Melon, Menthol, Mint, Pear, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry, Sour, Strawberry, Watermelon -
Banana, Berry, Blueberry, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Cola, Exotic Fruit, Fizzy, Grape, Green Apple, Ice, Lemonade, Mango, Menthol, Mint, Orange, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry, Sour, Strawberry, Tropical, Watermelon
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Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Coffee, Cola, Exotic Fruit, Fizzy, Grape, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Menthol, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Lemonade, Pink Raspberry, Slushy, Strawberry, Tobacco, Watermelon
What should Disposable Vape users do?
First of all, you’re in the right place if you’re looking to finally upgrade from disposables - even if the government made the choice for you.
Again, with the unfortunate news, disposable vape users have nothing to worry about. We have plenty of blogs and guides that will point you in the right direction regarding your next steps in finding a new nicotine delivery system to help you in your quitting journey.
Check out these guides to help you get the best start on a reusable device.
Also, check out some of these blogs to see what else the vaping world offers.
What’s Next?
Vape UK will always put its customers first, and with the recent news, we understand many people will need some help to adjust and find a new way to ease their cravings. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, and an expert will be at hand to point you in the right direction.