ARE VAPES BEING BANNED IN THE UK?

ARE VAPES BEING BANNED UK?

Not all vapes are being banned in the UK, just disposable vapes (1). From the increased rate of youth vaping with disposables and marketing tactics towards youngsters, to the environmental impact of plastics and lithium going to waste, as well as waste management safety concerns, the reasons for the ban on disposables are few but very strong.

*2024 Update - Check out the new SMOKO VAPE MAX! The perfect replacement for your disposable vape when the disposable vape ban arrives in 2025 - try it for free when you buy a box of SMOKO VAPE MAX refills!

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the vaping industry has experienced a surge in popularity across the United Kingdom, with millions of adults turning to e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking (2).

This shift has not only reshaped the smoking landscape but has also sparked intense debates and raised significant concerns regarding the safety, health implications, and regulation of vaping products. As vaping continues to divide public opinion, and as health experts grapple with mounting evidence, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture in the journey of vaping in the UK.

In this blog, we embark on an exploration of the current status of vaping regulations and the looming possibility of bans. We'll delve into the intricacies of the vaping industry in the UK, discuss the recent debates and concerns surrounding vaping, and ultimately seek to shed light on what the future holds for this controversial but rapidly evolving industry.

HOW DOES THE UK VAPING LANDSCAPE LOOK?

The vaping landscape in the United Kingdom has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Taking a historical perspective, vaping regulations in the UK initially began as a response to the emerging e-cigarette market and the need for oversight. Over time, regulations have become more comprehensive, reflecting the evolving understanding of vaping.

One notable aspect of this landscape is the popularity of vaping as a smoking cessation tool, one that evidence indicates could be more effective than other forms of nicotine replacement (3). Vaping has gained widespread recognition as a less harmful alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, with numerous studies supporting its efficacy in helping smokers quit, and Public Health England’s review of the evidence found E-Cigarettes to be at least 95% less harmful than smoking. This has contributed to a substantial increase in the number of vapers in the UK, further solidifying its role as a harm reduction strategy.

The growth of the vaping industry has not only provided smokers with alternatives but has also had a notable economic impact, creating jobs and generating revenue – the UK vaping industry turnover stood at about £1.325 billion (4). However, this growth has also triggered debates about the need for stricter regulations to ensure product safety, marketing ethics, and protection for non-smokers and youth.

 

WHAT ARE THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND CONCERNS AROUND VAPES?

Public health officials have been actively engaged in voicing their concerns about vaping, with a primary concern on the rising prevalence of vaping among youth (5). These concerns have prompted government agencies and regulatory bodies to reassess and adapt vaping regulations in light of the huge number of disposable vapes found to contain illegal levels of e-liquid that under 18’s are managing to get their hands on.

Investigations from the Daily Mail opened the floodgate, with the Elf Bar 600 range in several big UK stores found to be in breach of the 2ml maximum of e-liquid allowed – by quite a margin: on average they were overfilled by 50% above the legal limit.

British American Tobacco (BAT) conducted tests without publishing the results, though they did send them to Trading Standards and the UK regulatory body, the MHRA. The disposable vapes tested by BAT included Elf Bar 600, Lost Mary, Found Mary, IVG Bar, Klik Klak, SKE Crystal, Smok Mbar Pro and Solo models. All were, allegedly, found to have illegal levels of e-liquid.

 

VAPING REGULATIONS IN THE UK

Vaping regulations in the UK have evolved to address the unique challenges posed by electronic cigarettes. Currently, the regulatory landscape is characterized by a blend of stringent controls and measures aimed at striking a balance between providing adults with smoking alternatives and safeguarding public health. These include limits on the strength of e-liquid, amount of e-liquid sold in a single container and the exclusion of harmful chemicals.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) plays a pivotal role in this framework by overseeing the licensing and approval of certain vaping products as medicinal devices, ensuring their safety and quality. Additionally, marketing and advertising of vape products are subject to strict restrictions to prevent the glamorization of vaping and its appeal to young audiences.

These regulations are reinforced by age restrictions that prohibit the sale of vape products to individuals under 18 years old, thereby addressing concerns related to underage vaping and access to these products. As we navigate the intricate web of vaping regulations in the UK, it becomes evident that disposable vapes have managed to avoid these regulations.

THE DISPOSABLE VAPE BAN DEBATE

IS YOUTH VAPING A CONCERN?

Aside from breaking the TRPR (Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016) and TPD (Tobacco Products Directive 2014) which were put in place to protect the consumer, higher levels of e-liquid are a concern if youngsters get hold of them. As the majority of disposable vapes are coming from China, there is also concern over the quality of ingredients being used in Chinese-made e-liquid as disposable vapes circumvent the regulations in place for E-Cigarettes sold in the UK.

Nicotine use on a developing brain is thought to increase addictive behaviour and could harm parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control (6). These are all essential functions for young people working through school to perform at their best. With this in mind, the need to protect the youth and prevent them from obtaining nicotine-containing products is obvious.

Concern over youth vaping is growing due to the increased numbers of youngsters trying vaping according to polls and school’s finding students vaping on site. Looking at the packaging of some of these disposable vapes, it is hard to argue that the bright colours, flavour names and appropriation of sweet names like Skittles aren’t marketing tactics targeting youngsters. Given the strict rules on packaging for tobacco products because they contain nicotine, it is a wonder that the same strict rules weren’t applied to disposable vapes in the first place.   

It may be impossible to prevent youngsters from trying things like vaping throughout their entire childhood, however the damage done from using disposable vapes is exacerbated by having more than the legal level of e-liquid. If a disposable vape is overfilled by 50%, then that’s an extra 1ml of e-liquid – at the legal maximum of a 2% strength, that extra 1ml contains 20mg of nicotine, making the total contents of an illegal disposable vape 60mg instead of 40mg for a 2ml legal vape. This translates to about 30 cigarettes worth of nicotine the user absorbs.

A study examining data from 215,000 people from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the UK indicated that it only takes one cigarette to become addicted. These illegal disposable vapes contain 30 cigarettes worth of nicotine, potentially cementing a nicotine addiction by the time it’s finished.

 

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FOR A VAPE BAN?

Another large concern brought about by the increase in disposable vape use is the sheer amount of waste! It is estimated that about 5 million disposable vapes are thrown away each week in the UK (7) with many ending up on the streets or in general waste. One UK waste disposable management service, Grundon, found they were picking up between 100 to 150 disposable vapes by road sweeping in an eight-hour shift!

The way disposable vapes are made makes them challenging to recycle. As sealed units, it is hard to take them apart in order to recycle effectively, they contain nicotine which means they are also classed as hazardous waste, they contain electronics and a lithium battery so belong to a category of waste known as WEEE (or ‘e-waste’) which stands for ‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’.  This lack-of-ease when it comes to disposal is one of the reasons that so many disposable vapes end up in general waste.

Is it such a problem that disposable vapes end up in general waste? Yes, for several reasons. Lithium is a finite resource and used in batteries all over the world so the responsible course of action is to ensure it is recycled whenever possible. A more immediate reason would be the dangers disposable vapes present for waste disposal personnel and establishments; Material Focus, who run the ‘Recycle Your Electricals’ campaign, found that more than 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres were caused by batteries placed in general waste. Grundon has installed fire detection equipment costing £250k at each facility after several fires at one of their sites. This could lead to increased waste management contract costs, translating to an increase in your local council tax!

 

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE VAPING BAN?

The nature of the vaping ban should avoid impacting the use of vaping as a smoking cessation tool for adults by targeting the line of products that have the least protections in place – responsible vape companies will always check for identification at the point of sale or use an online verification process in the event of online sales.

It is typical that the places where youngsters are being sold the vapes illegally are the ‘corner shop’ and tech style stores, selling other products alongside disposable vapes and show little concern other than making money. In these cases, higher fines and severe punishments for those caught selling to under 18’s will be the best deterrent.

Other than ensuring that responsible vape stores remain unaffected, there is little to argue against with regard to the banning of disposable vapes. Some may argue that limiting the availability of single-use vapes may lead to a relapse in smoking in the event a vaper is caught without refills or e-liquid, however taking personal responsibility to ensure you are never caught without is the answer here.

There are always alternatives to vaping for getting your nicotine, too, from nicotine replacement therapy products (NRT) to Snus nicotine pouches placed in the mouth, that could see a vaper through until they can get to a vape store or their delivery of vape goods arrive. Maybe there is an element of subjectiveness here, but I would rather have a few days without nicotine (knowing that youth vaping has been reduced) than have a fall-back on disposable vapes if I find myself caught without.

 

2024 UPDATE - ARE DISPOSABLE VAPES BEING BANNED UK?

It was announced on the 28th January 2024 that disposable vapes are being banned in the UK. This disposable vape ban is part of government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping. Exactly when this disposable vape ban will come in to force is not yet known, but users of disposables will need to look elsewhere to get their nicotine - so consider SMOKO E-Cigarettes!

 

ARE VAPES BEING BANNED UK - CONCLUSION

So – not all vapes are being banned in the UK, but plans are being drawn up to ban the sale of disposable vapes to help protect the youth and the environment. This is a win for vapers, vape companies, waste management companies, parents, under 18’s and society as a whole!

At SMOKO, our vape devices use rechargeable batteries and refills pre-filled with our UK-made e-liquid, held to the high standards set forth by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA). You can even recycle your empty refills with us for free!

While disposable vapes are presenting problems for society, vape companies like us at SMOKO are helping smokers to quit cigarettes every day in an environmentally responsible way, while saving money!

If you are a smoker looking to quit tobacco for good, then check out our great vape starter kit deals and make the switch with SMOKO today!

 

REFERENCES

href="https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/29/disposable-vape-ban-and-what-it-means-for-young-people/" title="What the disposable vape ban means for young people" data-mce-fragment="1" data-sanitized-data-mce-fragment="1" data-sanitized-target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/29/disposable-vape-ban-and-what-it-means-for-young-people/" data-sanitized-data-mce-href="https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/29/disposable-vape-ban-and-what-it-means-for-young-people/">The Education Hub: Disposable vape ban and what it means for young people

(2) Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among adults in Great Britain

(3) Latest Cochrane Review finds high certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than traditional nictine-replacement therapy (NRT) in helping people quit smoking

(4) UK Vaping Industry Association Annual Report 2022

(5) 2022 Survey shows youth e-cigarettes epidemic remains a serious public health threat

(6) Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults

(7) Number of disposable single-use vapes thrown away have in a year quadrupled to 5 million per week

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Written by Dan Overgage

Dan Overgage – is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes.  Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking.  During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.