Disposable vapes will be banned in England starting next summer, a move recently confirmed by the government. From June 2025, it will be illegal to sell single-use vapes as part of efforts to address environmental damage and their growing popularity among children.
The legislation was presented to parliament, as noted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which has collaborated with devolved governments on this ban and will ensure the alignment of enforcement dates.
Defra has announced that businesses will have until June 1 of next year to sell off any remaining stock they have before the ban takes effect.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh emphasized the need for this ban, stating that disposable vapes are “extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities.” She remarked, “That is why we are banning single-use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture. This is just the first step toward a circular economy, where we maximize resource use, minimize waste, and accelerate our journey to net zero while creating thousands of jobs across the country.”
However, the vaping lobby is concerned that this legislation may inadvertently encourage a black market for disposable vapes. John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, expressed this sentiment on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, stating, “One of the major concerns is that the last version of the bill I reviewed did not include a ban on importing these products. This oversight could simply fuel black market activity.” Dunne noted that vapers might resort to buying products online from overseas, highlighting the difficulties authorities face in regulating the current parallel vape market.
The legislation was initially proposed by Rishi Sunak’s government but did not progress before the end of the previous parliamentary session. This tobacco and vapes bill aims to gradually raise the legal age for tobacco purchases, ensuring that anyone born in 2009 and later will never legally smoke. It also plans to impose strict restrictions on the sale and marketing of vapes targeted at children.
Recent estimates indicate that nearly 5 million single-use vapes are littered or discarded in general waste every week in the UK, nearly four times the figure from the previous year. Defra further reported a staggering 400% increase in vape usage in England from 2012 to 2023, with 9.1% of the British public actively engaging with these products.
Health minister Andrew Gwynne expressed deep concern over rising vape usage among youth, indicating that “a quarter of 11- to 15-year-olds used a vape last year,” with disposables being the preferred option among young vapers. He stated, “Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but it will also reduce their appeal to children and keep these products out of the hands of vulnerable young people. The government will also introduce the tobacco and vapes bill, marking the largest public health intervention in a generation, aimed at protecting young people from nicotine addiction and paving the way for a smoke-free UK.”
