[Updated: 02/01/24]
On Sunday the 28th of January 2024, Rishi Sunak announced the British government’s 3 part plan to ban disposable vapes and tackle the rise of youth vaping, a move that will affect over a million adult vapers who use disposables as a successful quit-smoking aid.
First, disposable vapes will be banned in the bill; second, politicians are requesting “powers” to restrict flavours and packaging limits on e-liquids; and thirdly, the way vapes are advertised in stores may also change, if they get given the said “powers”. There will also be a prohibition of the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009.
After being debated and approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the measure banning disposable vape pens must be signed into law by King Charles, known as a Royal Assent. A measure can only become law if all of these conditions are met. To put it simply, a bill serves as the framework for legislation.
Vapoholic Stance:
Even though the rise of disposable vapes has taken over society in the past couple of years, it is evident from the vast amount of research that these throwaway devices have been extremely successful in helping millions of smokers kick their habit.
With the government election on the near horizon, it seems this could be a ‘quick win’ that Rishi Sunak is trying to get under his belt.
The impression that disposable vapes are only used by underage minors, and we agree it is becoming an epidemic, has completely clouded people’s views and opinions of disposable vapes, and their true purpose.
Vapes are supported by Public Health England and ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) for being twice as effective as other nicotine replacement therapies and are 95% safer than smoking standard cigarettes. Banning these convenient and simple-to-use devices for adult vapers risks causing more harm than good.
We at Vapoholic understand that the rise of youth vaping has become alarming, however, vape shops in the UK have had no issues with this epidemic for the past two decades, the rise coincidently started at the same time brick-and-mortar convenience stores started stocking disposable vapes.
Vape stores, online and physical, have been rigorously following regulations to the highest of industry standards and have multiple age verifications in check. Unregulated corner shops have already been caught by the Trading Standards all across the UK for selling illegal vapes in the past couple of years.
With these brick-and-mortar shops already selling black-market disposable vapes, this new legislation will only further drive the black market, as we all know when prohibitions are put in place, individuals seek out other methods to get their hands on the product.
There have already been reports of millions and millions of illegal disposables being seized at the border this month alone, and if enforcement isn’t being funded throughout the UK, the black market for these vapes will be worth billions and will become uncontrollable.
Already, this proves that a direct ban will only hurt adult vapers who use these devices correctly, instead, the government should be focusing on funding enforcement of regulating stores that illegally sell vapes or sell TPD non-compliant devices.
This further proves that the government is attempting to appear to be doing something rather than taking the positive steps of preventing disposable vapes from falling into the hands of children.
At Vapoholic, we have in-depth blogs about how to recycle these products, with recycling bins for our customers to drop off their old devices. Not only that, we manually check every order to ensure no minor has slipped through our age verification checks to order vapes.
The decision to restrict flavours has not left a good impression, and we completely disagree with it. According to various studies, adults attempting to quit smoking rely on e-liquid flavour selection and, if a taste ban is introduced, will refuse to comply.
We agree that packaging modifications, such as removing cartoons or graphics that appeal to minors, should be made.
We believe if you have never smoked before, don’t start vaping. Around 76,000 people in the UK die from smoking every year, vaping is the most effective quit-smoking aid, so proposing a direct ban instead of funding the crackdown on these shops and their counterfeit vapes will be ineffective and harm the success of this aid.
Vapoholic will continue to support vaping and assist smokers to help them quit their habit for good. Millions of ex-smokers have seen the benefits that vaping has brought to their life, and Sunak choosing votes over vapes without looking at the bigger picture will be a recipe for disaster.
[Updated: 10/11/23]
Read the latest blog to Voice your Opposition to The Government Proposal to Ban Vape Products and save vaping!
Disposable Vape Ban
The vaping industry has recently had some significant ups and downs, constantly trying to fight to be in a positive light.
With one major positive of vaping, is that more and more adults are turning to vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, and smoking rates in the UK continue to fall.
At the same time, there are growing concerns about the perceived popularity of vaping among teenage users. However, the heated discussion over whether disposable vapes should be banned has recently captured everyone’s attention.
With many aspects to take into account, the debate over disposable vapes is undoubtedly not a simple one.
Everything from how it would harm people who are trying to quit smoking to the environmental effects of throwaway vapes, to the doubt about whether a ban would actually deter young people from trying out vaping has been raised.
Why Are There Talks of a Disposable Vape Ban?
The LGA (Local Government Association) announced on July 14th that a ban on single-use vapes must go into force due to their attractiveness to minors, trash, fire hazards, and environmental damage. Such as the sale and manufacture of disposables like Elf Bars and Lost Mary, by 2024.
Disposable vapes have become a common and noticeable piece of litter on our streets, with 1.3 million of them being thrown away every week.
Overall, the UK Government, like the vast majority of public health professionals, feels that vaping is a positive force as a method of quitting smoking.
In keeping with the evolution of the vaping sector, the number of people who smoke standard cigarettes has decreased year on year. The development of single-use vapes has greatly aided in this decline.
However, figures released earlier this month by the Office for National Statistics revealed a significant increase in vaping among teenagers and young adults in the United Kingdom.
According to NHS data, the number of children admitted to hospitals due to vaping is also on the rise.
So with the rise of littering, with underage minors caught with vapes, and young hospital admissions, there’s no wonder why politicians are calling for a ban on disposable vapes.
There is no current vape ban in the UK, but the government is taking critical steps to address two major issues: environmental protection and reducing youth vaping.
To ensure that used disposable vapes are properly discarded, they are collaborating with vape businesses to set up drop-off locations where individuals may safely drop off old devices for recycling.
The ecology is being harmed by the weekly disposal of over a million disposable vapes in Britain and promoting the usage of refillable vapes can help lessen this harm and increase sustainability.
Where Have Disposable Vapes Been Banned?
Significant steps have recently been taken in Australia to regulate the vaping industry and to tackle concerns about teen vaping.
The government’s strategy includes a ban on all disposable vapes, restrictions on the import of non-prescription vapes, and nicotine level controls. The major goal is to direct vape sales towards assisting smokers in their efforts to quit smoking.
The Australian government has taken considerable moves to control the vaping business as part of the $737 million fund for smoking and vaping in the 2023-24 budget. To lessen their environmental impact, these measures include a prohibition on single-use vapes.
Vaping items will also see a packaging change, with simple, pharmaceutical-like packaging devoid of artistic graphics or shining colours.
Stricter rules on flavours, colours, and compounds will be implemented in order to enhance the minimum quality requirements for vapes, and nicotine limits will be set in order to promote safer vaping device use.
Other countries where disposable vapes are already banned:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia (unless you have a prescription)
- Bhutan
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- Colombia
- East Timor
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Hong Kong
- India
- Iran
- Japan (vaping non-nicotine e-liquid is legal)
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Malaysia (four states: Penang, Jodoh, Kedah, Kelantan)
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- North Korea
- Oman
- Palestine
- Panama
- Qatar
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Syria
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
What Will Happen If They Ban Disposable Vapes?
Although the reason as to why is legitimate, we can’t control children getting their hands on disposable vapes or throwing them on the floor. But one of the reasons why there are hospital admissions is from unregulated vapes being sold in brick-and-mortar shops.
Have you heard about the RandM Tornado vapes? When inhaled, these vapes emit RGB illumination and have a power source life of 9000 puffs for 18ml of 2% nicotine. These disposable devices, and others like them, are partly to blame for the negative perception of disposable vapes.
These vapes are illegal in the United Kingdom and are not subject to TPD regulation. But they’re still sold in corner stores and in the hands of minors.
If local retailers are already selling banned vapes, and the UK decides to ban all disposable vapes, it will be evident that a massive black market demand for disposables will increase, flooding our streets much more than it already is.
The NHS has witnessed a decrease in smoking rates with the introduction of disposable vapes.
If the prohibition goes into place and people in the UK lack knowledge about regulated refillable vapes, smoking rates may rise again, putting a further load on the NHS.
Recycling Disposable Vapes
Similar to other e-cigarettes, disposable vapes create electronic waste, which complicates recycling and waste management.
The wrong disposal of these devices can result in toxic substances seeping into the environment, endangering ecosystems and wildlife.
Recycling programmes for disposable vapes are being introduced to solve this environmental concern, with many high street shops taking back your old electrical items.
To appropriately collect and discard abandoned vape devices, certain vaping businesses, environmental agencies, and e-waste recycling programmes are taking action.
You can find your local recycling vape point here.
Why Are Disposables So Popular With Ex-Smokers?
Disposable vapes are one of the most effective quit-smoking aids on the market. They’re beginner-friendly, easy to use, and hassle-free.
There are even nicotine-free disposable vapes that give ex-smokers the sensation of smoking, without the harmful nicotine.
Similar Smoking Style: Disposables are designed to mirror the sensation of smoking standard cigarettes, with mouth-to-lung smoking style and nicotine salts to satisfy the cravings.
A Range of Flavours: With so many flavour options, there’s a disposable for every taste preference.
Convenience: You can pretty much vape anywhere, quickly. When you receive a disposable vape, you simply need to take it out of the packaging and can start vaping anywhere, easily.
What Are The Best Alternatives to Disposables?
If you want to carry on vaping, but don’t want to be affected by the potential ban on disposable vapes, there are other alternatives out there for you.
The best alternative would be upgrading to a refillable pod system. These vape kits are also beginner-friendly, easy to use, and convenient without the added stress.
Pod devices come with detachable pods, hence the name, where you would simply refill the 2ml compartment with your e-liquid of choice. Once the coil has ran its course, usually around a month, you simply change the pod to a fresh one – no need to continually dispose of the full device.
And without sacrificing the flavour of your favourite disposable vapes, coupling up your pod kit with a bar juice e-liquid will be the best alternative for you.
Bar juice is a type of vape juice that has double the flavour concentration found in standard vape liquid. With double the flavour concentration, it mirrors the taste of disposable vapes but in a much cheaper and more sustainable way.
