Here Comes The Disposable Vape Ban
As of Sunday 28 January, we are expecting the Government to announce a range of anti-vape measures including a disposables ban, flavour restriction and tax hike on Monday
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by Dave Cross
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According to multiple sources, the Government is expected to announce its range of measures to curb youth use of vape products on Monday 29 January. The proposals are set to include a complete ban on the importation and sale of disposable single-use vapes.
In addition, word has it that they will also include suggestions to restrict e-liquids to just four flavour profiles and a punitive tax of at least 25% (although we do not know if this will apply just to refill pods, e-liquids or all vape products.
Planet of the Vapes will keep you abreast of developments as they happen.
Surprisingly, not everyone in the vape industry is against the ban proposal. VPZ director Doug Mutter told Talking Retail magazine that he supports the disposables ban proposal but warned Parliament to heed the experience of Australia where a black market has boomed.
He told the trade magazine: “For the past two years we have called on the UK government to introduce licencing and controls for selling vaping products. We believe this would provide a strong and robust solution to tackling access and the impact of disposables on youth uptake and the environment.”
Adding that, “it’s hugely important that it operates alongside a licencing scheme where there are proper punishments and policing in place to enforce the ban, tackle the existing black market and ensure it doesn’t continue to grow.”
Doug Mutter favours a New Zealand model where vape stores apply for a licence to sell flavoured products instead of removing the right for adults to continue buying the products that got them off tobacco and help to keep them cigarette-free.
“Health policy-makers have a huge opportunity to get this right,” Mutter continued, “and it’s important that they take on board advice and guidance to regain much-needed momentum and help the country meet its 2030 smoke-free ambitions.”
Scottish media is reporting that Humza Yousaf plans on implementing a ban north of the border too – and that it is likely to be mirrored by the Welsh government.
The SNP’s Kirsten Oswald has expressed her delight at the news: “Having long been raising the alarm about disposable vapes, I welcome this move to ban them. It is very clear that disposable vapes are detrimental to health and to the wellbeing of our planet.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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