Everything we know about the UK disposable vape ban

The government has announced a ban on the sale of disposable vapes from June next year.

New legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes has been laid out in parliament, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed on Wednesday.

Defra said the UK government had worked closely on the ban with devolved governments and would “align coming into force dates”.

Single-use vapes come pre-filled with e-liquid and are ready to use right out of the package.

They are available in a wide range of flavours and nicotine strengths and are typically compact and lightweight, allowing for discreet use.

The ban on the sale of single-use vapes will come in from 1 June 2025 in England.

Wales has already confirmed the same date for its ban, with Northern Ireland expected to follow suit.

Scotland had already planned to ban disposable vapes, having previously passed regulations to phase them out from 1 April. After the UK government made the announcement of the ban in England, Scotland moved its date to 1 June to be in line with the rest of the country.

Businesses will have until the deadline “to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force”, Defra said.

BREAKING: We are banning single-use vapes. With around five million vapes discarded every week in the UK, this ban will be a crucial first step on the road to a circular economy. Learn more: https://t.co/D0AlZChliR #ZeroWaste pic.twitter.com/X074bjdPY7

— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) October 24, 2024

Defra pointed out that vape usage in England grew by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023. Some 9.3% of the British public now buy and use the products.

Due to the huge increase and the single-use nature of these particular e-cigarettes, the vast waste has prompted environmental concerns.

Last year, it was estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK – almost four times as much as the previous year.

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said single-use vapes were “extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities”. She added: “That is why we are banning single use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture.

“This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net-zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”

The devices are also often marketed to younger users – and have been linked to rising health risks, including nicotine addiction and respiratory issues.

Health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today.

“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”

The short answer is yes, as vaping will still be legal after June, but you will no longer be able to buy disposable vapes.

Users will instead be forced to buy refillable devices, if they continue to vape after 1 June next year.

Until that point, disposable vapes can still legally be sold.

In the UK, the legal age for buying vaping products is set at 18. This regulation applies to all e-cigarettes and vape devices, including disposable vapes and refillable kits.

It is both illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18 and for adults to buy them for anyone under 18.

Despite these regulations, there have been ongoing concerns about the accessibility of vaping products to minors, particularly due to the rise of online sales and social media marketing.

While there are currently no plans to impose an outright ban on all vaping products, the government’s decision to ban disposable vapes could be seen as the first step to an outright ban.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has promised to toughen up smoking laws with a “more ambitious” tobacco and vapes bill by Christmas.

The bill, tabled in the last parliament, sought to prevent anyone born after 1 January 2009 from legally smoking by gradually raising the age at which tobacco can be bought. It also aimed to impose restrictions on the sale and marketing of vapes to children.

The government is also introducing other measures to restrict vaping, including regulating the flavours, packaging, and display of vapes.

One million in England now vape despite never having been regular smokers (The Independent)

Quarter of 11 to 15-years-old have tried vaping, figures show (PA)

Kate Garraway shares moment she became ‘instantly addicted’ to disposable vapes (Yahoo Life)