Vape ban 'could push thousands of Brits back to smoking' as new rules begin in days
It will be illegal to sell disposable vapes in the UK after June 1 - but could that see people move to another unhealthy habit.
The imminent disposable vape ban could 'push thousands back to smoking'
(Image: MartinaParaninfi/Getty Images )
Disposable vapes are set to be pulled from shelves across the UK this weekend as a new ban of the single-use nicotine stick comes into force. From Sunday, June 1, it will be illegal to sell or buy the throwaway e-cigs.
The move is aimed at protecting the environment, as well as stopping young kids getting hooked on the brightly-coloured, sweetly-flavoured vapes and impacting their health.
But while the move has good intentions for the wellbeing of the nation, there are fears that the ban could send "thousands" back to an unhealthier habit; smoking.
Many people took up vaping as an alternative to cigarettes but may consider a return if rules on vaping continue to tighten.
A survey from retailers Vape Shop raised concerns about how the ban, and any future restrictions, may impact smoking numbers and, ultimately, the bid for the UK to be smokefree by 2030.
The results suggest that we, as a nation, are still reliant on vaping as a method of quitting smoking.
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The research, which involved polling 750 British vapers over the age of 18, found that 44 per cent of vapers took up the habit to move away from cigarettes.
Many vapers took up the habit to quit smoking - but might go back to cigarettes
(Image:)
With the disposable e-cig ban imminent, many people have also started "stockpiling" the single-use devices. As the restrictions will only be on selling vapes, those who have a stash of the puffers will still be able to use them.
But more than half (52 percent) of those who responded to Vape Shop's research revealed that they had already moved to more sustainable options, such as chargeable, refillable vapes.
The new law would not affect these individuals, and around a quarter (27 percent) of people said that they had no plans to reduce how often they puff, even with the ban bringing the health issues into focus.
And many responders were concerned about how the vaping landscape will change once the new policy is in place, worrying that this is just the beginning of harsher restrictions.
If all vapes were to be banned in the UK in future, 42 per cent would consider taking up smoking again, rather than kicking the habit for good.
If the tasty flavours of e-cigs were to be restricted in the coming years, 23 percent admitted they would choose smoking over flavourless vapes.
And 17 per cent revealed that they plan on turning to cigarettes after the increase in tax on vaping products comes into force in October 2026.
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A similar number (20 percent) expressed fears that the general costs associated with vaping would rise in the months after the ban comes in, while 11 percent think the ruling could lead to a surge in unregulated black-market vape sales.
Chris Price, E-Commerce Manager at Vape shop commented: 'We fully support efforts to reduce youth vaping and protect public health, but these findings show a real risk that following the disposables ban, we may see thousands pushed back to smoking - the very habit vaping helped them quit.
"With the 2030 smokefree ambition, it's important that policy decisions don't undermine progress made over the last decade.
'We urge the government to consider a more balanced approach, such as tighter age verification and packaging controls, rather than removing a tool relied upon by many adults trying to quit smoking.'
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