Warning that disposable vapes ban ‘will backfire' as threat of £200 fines looms in just hours
Retailers have been scrambling to sell of their remaining stock
PUFFED UP Warning that disposable vapes ban 'will backfire' as threat of £200 fines looms in just hours
EXPERTS have warned that the government's disposable vape ban will backfire.
The threat of fines looms with just hours left before disposable vapes are banned across the UK.
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Experts warned that the ban could lead to a surge in black market products
Credit: Getty
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Smokers relied on the products as an easy to use alternative to traditional cigarettes
Credit: PA
Coming into effect on Sunday June 1, the ban will make it illegal for any retailer to sell single use vapes online or in store.
Only reusable vapes will be sold from June 1 with the government crackdown aimed at preventing youths from picking up the habit and protecting the environment.
Industry leaders have today warned that the ban will backfire with a slew of unintended consequences expected.
Experts shared concerns that the ban will result in the vape losing its original purpose as an aid to quit smoking.
Concerns have been raised that after the ban smokers who moved away from cigarettes with the help of vapes will return to the deadly habit.
Experts said that without disposable vapes smokers could return to tobacco or, even worse, unregulated vapes.
Evidence from the USA and Australia indicates vape bans create a boom in black market, counterfeit vapes being sold.
Disposable vapes have been extremely popular with smokers looking to kick the habit because they are as easy to use as a traditional cigarette.
Experts said the ban was a "disproportionate response" to youth vaping and environmental concerns.
Industry leaders said looking at other options like enforcing existing laws and education should have been considered.
Kate Pike, the lead officer for tobacco and vaping at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said it was a 'worry' that reusable vapes cost the same as disposables.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's a real worry that people will continue to use them as single-use disposable and therefore it won't help limit the damage to the environment.'
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Further restrictions are set to hit the vape industry
Credit: Getty
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Retailers have been warned that they could be slapped with massive fines if they continue to sell the products
Credit: AFP
Further restrictions on disposable vapes are currently working their way through parliament.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will see marketing, packaging and flavours of vapes also subject to restrictions when it is introduced.
Rogue traders who continue to sell the disposable vapes will face fines of £200 under the new legislation.
This can be followed with an unlimited fine or jail time if the trader persists in selling the products.
The Sun reported yesterday that retailers were selling off their remaining stock at discounted prices ahead of the ban.
Images showed baskets filled with the disposable vapes being sold off in bulk for cheap as retailers scrambled to empty their shelves.
There are just hours left before the products will be illegal to sell in stores or online.
Experts have warned that the disposable products will soon be replaced with near identical reusable vapes as firms scramble to get new legal models onto shelves.
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STV News
a day ago
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Source to Sea litter surveys carried out by Marine Conservation Society volunteers in streets, parks and beaches revealed an increase in prevalence of vapes from being recorded on 46% of surveys in Scotland in 2023 to almost all – 85% – of surveys carried out in 2024. Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: 'We first became aware of the impact single-use vapes were having on our environment back in 2022 when members of the public and our volunteers were noticing them more often and asked what could be done. 'I'm proud of the effort we have made, alongside our partners, to see this product banned in Scotland – it shows what true collaboration can achieve. 'Our surveys and supporters have made it clear that this product was becoming more and more common, spoiling our environment and causing danger to wildlife. 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