This short report was first published as a lead story for our Nouseletter.
The government has announced that disposable vapes are to be banned from 1 June 2025 amidst fears surrounding the increasing amount of young people who vape.
Vape usage in Britain has risen by more than 400% since 2012, and concerns have particularly grown due to bright packaging and flavours marketed at children.
Plans to ban disposable vapes were announced under Sunak’s Conservative government, and have been picked up by the Labour government, contingent with plans to create a ‘smoke-free generation’.
This ban will not extend to refillable vapes that are frequently used to help people stop smoking. Under new laws those who were born in or after 2009 will not be able to legally purchase cigarettes. This aims to relieve strain on the NHS from the effects of smoking tobacco, as well as lesser known, emerging problems associated with vaping.
It is not only public health concerns which have provided impetus for this law, but environmental concerns too. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found that five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, up from 1.3 million last year.
DEFRA also found the general public to largely be in favour of the ban, with a consultation in February 2024 revealing that 69% of respondents supported the proposals.
The last date single use vapes will be sold is 31 May 2025, however, it is somewhat unclear as to how the ban will be monitored and policed, and there are concerns that the ban will lead to unregulated online sales and the emergence of a black market, deepening the pockets and reach of existing drug dealers.
Students Nouse spoke to highlighted the environmental impact of vaping. Matt Hallam remarked that the vape ban was “Good - They’re bad for the environment and they’ve become a gateway into smoking”.
Another student we spoke to was nonplussed: “I don’t see the problem [with the ban], refillable ones are available and a better option”
This reflected a general trend of optimism mixed with indifference. A poll conducted by Nouse of over 180 students at York found that only 7% regularly vaped.
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