23-05-2025
Which vapes will be illegal under the UK ban and why are they being outlawed?
Vapers will be saying goodbye to all their favourite disposable vapes, from Crystal Bars to Lost Marys.
There's just over a week left before all disposable vapes will be stripped from the shelves in Britain. The UK-wide move is a bid by the national governments to protect the environment and deter young people and children from turning to the colourful nicotine sticks.
Throwaway vapes will be completely illegal to sell both in stores and online from June 1. Those found ignoring the ban in Scotland can be fined £200 in the first instance.
Repeat offences will increase the fine by £200 each time a supplier is found selling the soon-to-be-illegal products. A maximum fine of £5000 can be issued to repeat offenders, or even a two-year stint in prison.
But as the ban looms, questions are rising on which specific vapes will become illegal, as reusable vaping products will not be outlawed. So, which vapes will no longer be available in the UK?
Here's everything you need to know.
Which vapes will become illegal under the UK ban?
Elf Bar 600
One of the most popular brands, the disposable Elf Bar 600 (meaning it contains 600 puffs before it goes dead and needs replaced) will become illegal to sell.
Lost Mary BM600
Another extremely popular disposable vape, the short and stocky Lost Mary BM600 will also become illegal.
SKE Crystal Bar
Like many disposable vape brands, SKE have released reusable versions of their throwaway vapes. But selling single-use versions of the popular Crystal Bar will be illegal from June 1.
Vuse GO 1000
Previously sold in many supermarket kiosks and corner shops, all disposable versions of Vuse vapes are also included in the nation-wide ban.
Why are disposable vapes being banned by the government?
The UK Government has decided to ban vapes for two reasons- to protect the environment and to deter young people from vaping. Nearly five million disposable vapes were littered or discarded every week in 2024, according to Material Focus.
Littered vapes leak harmful chemicals into soil, rivers and streams, and contain lithium which can cause fires. Many vapes end up in landfill or the incinerator, where valuable materials are wasted instead of being recycled.
Disposable vapes are the most commonly used nicotine product for young people, and with their sweet flavours, bright designs, and colourful marketing, disposables have been blamed for the huge increase in youth vaping.
NHS figures from last year showed nearly a quarter of children in the age bracket of 11 to 15 had tried vaping, and nearly one in 10 vaped frequently.
As well as protecting the environment, the ban aims to deter young people and children from turning to the nicotine products, which have been found to have serious health consequences.
In fact, the first ever report on the health effects of vaping found that consistent use of vapes increases the risk of heart disease, organ failure and dementia.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
