Survey Highlights Ban Impact

Survey highlights:

• 1,136 vapers responded 
• 66% use disposable vapes as their primary device
• 25.2% will stock up on disposables before the ban starts
• 14% will go back to smoking after the ban
• 6.9% will continue to buy disposables on the black market
• if sweet e-liquid flavours are banned, 29.5% will return to smoking
• if sweet e-liquid flavours are banned, 15.1% will from the black market

Vape Superstore says that combining the UK government ban on the sale of all disposable vapes, the addition of a new £2.20 per 10ml vaping tax, and the potential restrictions on ecig packaging and eliquid flavours, concerns are high that an already out of control black market will continue to grow.

The negative measures will be delivered through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introduced to Parliament following the Budget speech. The Government justifies them due to its consultation process attracting nearly 70% of survey respondents calling for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

The retailer says: “Over 7.7 million disposable vapes were sold every week in 2023. Single-use vapes are blamed for the stark rise in vaping among children and young people. Age verification plays a big part in this, with another recent survey revealing that 45% of vapers have never been asked for age verification. However, disposables have also been hugely successful tools for adult smokers wishing to quit.”

Pointing to the latest Cochrane review, there is strong evidence that vaping is the most successful nicotine replacement therapy. Vaping has contributed to 50,000 to 70,000 fewer smokers per year. The Government has reiterated its support for vape devices and pledged that they will continue to be made available to current smokers – but reducing their attractiveness will surely carry a cost.

How will the disposable vape ban affect adult vapers in the UK?

Vape Superstore says disposable vapes have been extremely successful at encouraging smokers to try vaping.

“During a recent survey of our customer base at Vape Superstore, 81% of the 1,136 respondents said that they no longer use tobacco thanks to vaping and 66% of them listed disposable vapes as their primary device.

“Whilst 35% said that they would switch to reusable vape kits when the ban was implanted, 14% said that they would return to smoking and 6.9% admitted that they would continue buying disposables on the black market.

“Vaping has been a tremendous success story that has seen 2.7 million smokers give up tobacco with the number of adult smokers switching to vaping continuing to grow. According to ASH, disposable vapes account for 31% of the types of vapes used in 2023, a huge increase from 2.3% in 2021.”

Vape Superstore adds: “Encouraging the shift to refillable vapes can ensure that consumers don't return to smoking as well as helping to mitigate the widespread negative economic effects. Reusable vape kits are far more economical and less wasteful and they are just as easy to use.”

Will eliquid flavours be banned? 

The government has not confirmed that it will restrict juice flavours, but flavour bans are being rolled out across Europe and Health ministers have spoken negatively about sweet flavours such as desserts and sweets.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes provision for implementing a ban, and proponents argue that a flavour ban would reduce the appeal of vaping among teenagers. As vapers know, flavours play a vital role in helping smokers switch from tobacco products.

Vape Superstore continued: “Our recent survey results showed that 1 in 3 (29%) vapers said they would go back to smoking if the government banned sweet e-liquid flavours. While 15% would turn to the black market to get their flavours, already highlighting the potential shift towards unsafe products if the legitimate vaping industry is restricted.

“Flavours make the transition from smoking more appealing to adults. According to ASH, over 50% of adult vapers prefer fruit or sweet-flavoured e-liquids. There is a risk that consumers may return to smoking if a flavour ban comes into place.

“Consumers could also be pushed to purchase dangerous and unregulated flavoured e-liquids from the black market which would then have a monopoly over flavoured e-liquids.”

Commenting on the company’s findings, David Phillips said: “We now have confirmation that disposable vapes will no longer be available as of the 1st June 2025. Far from signalling the end of anyone’s vaping journey, we believe that the disposable ban will drive vapers to embrace more sustainable options like refillable vapes and prefilled pod kits. Reusable vape kits offer the same effortless convenience at much lower cost.

“For the past two years, Vape Superstore has been educating its customers on vaping alternatives available for a transition to more sustainable vaping. We offer expert advice and the UK’s widest range of reusable pod kits and vape pens as well as thousands of e-liquids, to ensure that no-one is left behind when disposables disappear on the 1st of June. Disposables are out, but reusable vaping has never been easier."

References:

• The wider study also covers the economic implications and tackling the black market - https://www.vapesuperstore.co.uk/blogs/news/are-disposable-vapes-being-banned-in-the-uk 

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave 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.