With the recent rise in popularity of disposable e-cigarettes (vapes), many have taken notice of their negative effects.
The UK government has recently introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes plans to ban disposable vapes in the UK.
Public health measures such as these are often seen as a good move. However, in many cases, they can leave people without advice and support, and with questions around how they should proceed.
In this article, we discuss why disposable vapes are being banned in the UK. We will also cover when the ban starts and how you can stop, if you’re concerned about the health impacts of vaping.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping has become an incredibly popular habit. Rather than smoking a cigarette, vapes allow users to inhale water vapour containing nicotine.
At first, these devices were intended to give the same feeling as smoking, while allowing people to control the amount of nicotine they are taking in. Ideally, this should make it easier to quit smoking.
However, due to the lack of support around changing the habits around smoking, many people continued to use these devices, switching them from a form of nicotine replacement therapy to a straightforward cigarette replacement.
Are Disposable Vapes Being Banned?
Yes. Disposable vapes are set to be banned from sale in the UK (including Scotland and Northern Ireland) from 1 June, 2025.
Alongside this ban, the UK government will propose other new legislation around tobacco products. The proposals aim to create the “first smoke-free generation”, who will never be able to legally purchase tobacco.
New powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to limited public spaces (including play parks and outside schools) aim to limit second-hand exposure to nicotine.
Why are Vapes Being Banned?
Environmental Concerns
Disposable vapes are pre-filled and sealed, so you can’t refill them or switch parts out. These are designed to be cheaper alternatives to the larger reusable devices, though only in the short-term.
These disposable vapes are designed to be used for a short period and then thrown away. This device is made of plastic and metal. It has batteries and wiring that can cause fires. This has become an environmental concern.
While recycling is available for these devices, it is not widely available or used, meaning most disposable vapes are being disposed of in landfill. This creates a large number of issues, including fire risks.
Health Risks
Aside from the environmental effects, disposable vapes are likely made with cheaper materials and ingredients. They’ve been found to contain high levels of heavy metals and there’s often a lack of accountability on ingredients. This means there are serious health concerns attached to the long-term use of disposable vapes.
They also often use liquids that are high in nicotine. This makes them more addictive and more likely to cause issues in those who don’t normally smoke. There are also concerns about where these liquids come from. Reports have found harmful chemicals in the vapors.
There is also marketing to consider. While it is illegal to sell these devices to anyone under 18, many have claimed that these devices are being targeted towards children. With fruity flavours and colourful packaging, it can be easy to see the connection.
In 2023, Juul Labs, a major American vaping company, had to settle a lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed they targeted teenagers with their vaping products. This settlement cost them $462 million.
In the UK, recent surveys show that around 18% of young people aged 11-17 had tried vaping. Around 4% admitted to vaping at least once a week.
While youth vaping is obviously a problem, the consequences are far-reaching. Vapes are seen to contribute to the prevalence of some health conditions, including emphysema and “popcorn lung”.
Stopping Vaping: What Support is Available?
If you are concerned about vaping and want to stop, there are services and treatments that can help you to quit.
While disposable vapes are being banned, refillable vapes will still be available. Reusable vapes are not being banned yet. These devices are more expensive, but are usually built using better quality materials, and are designed to last longer with replaceable parts (such as heating coils).
While these are slightly more complex to use, they are a far more environmentally-conscious option. They are also significantly cheaper in the long run. These can help you transition to another method to fully quit vaping.
The NHS runs a Smoking Cessation service, which allows anyone to quit through their local pharmacy. However, there are currently some doubts around how long it will continue, with recently proposed cuts removing it as a service.
Other forms of nicotine replacement therapy are available. These include nicotine patches, tablets and gum designed to give you a small amount of nicotine to prevent withdrawal symptoms, relying on your own willpower to stop vaping. These products will help prevent withdrawals, but they are less effective at preventing the behavioural need to smoke (after a meal, while walking, etc).
Medications such as Zyban and Varenicline lower the severity of nicotine cravings and withdrawals. They act on the chemical messengers responsible for these cravings. This makes it easier to deal with the ingrained habits around smoking and vaping.
Key Takeaways
- Disposable vapes will be banned across the UK from 1 June 2025 as part of new government legislation targeting tobacco and vaping products.
- The ban addresses environmental harm from non-recyclable vapes and health risks from poor-quality materials, high nicotine content, and unregulated ingredients.
- Flavoured vapes and colourful designs have been linked to increased youth vaping.
- Help is available via NHS services, nicotine patches, gums, and medications like Zyban or Varenicline. Refillable vapes remain legal and offer a more sustainable quitting option.
References
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) (2024). Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain. [online] ASH. Available at: https://ash.org.uk/resources/view/use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-great-britain.
Triggle, N. (2025). NHS plans ‘unthinkable’ cuts to balance books. BBC News. [online] 8 May. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgle2xkg3wpo.
Larcombe, A. (2023). What’s in vapes? Toxins, heavy metals, maybe radioactive polonium. [online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/whats-in-vapes-toxins-heavy-metals-maybe-radioactive-polonium-210462.
Tapper, J. (2023). Single-use vapes sparking surge in fires at UK waste plants. The Observer. [online] 13 May. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/13/single-use-vapes-sparking-surge-in-fires-at-uk-waste-plants.
American Lung Association (2024). What’s in an E-Cigarette? [online] Lung.org. Available at: https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/whats-in-an-e-cigarette.
Ian is a content writer at Simple Online Pharmacy. With a background in science communication, editing, and freelance writing, Ian aims to empower readers with accessible health information.
