Latest news with #VapeClub
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Woman who started disposable vape ban campaign hailed 'hero' but some see issue
The ban on disposable vapes comes into effect on June 1 following a campaign to outlaw them - and it applies to all businesses and organisations that sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK from Sunday (June 1) in a bid to cut back on waste. The new law will be applied to businesses rather than individuals, however, meaning that it will be a criminal offence for retailers to sell or supply such single-use products - but not illegal for vapers to smoke them for personal use. It follows a campaign by Laura Young, whose campaign pointed out that a staggering 5 million disposable vapes were discarded every week in the UK in 2023, which over a year is equivalent to the lithium batteries of 5,000 electric vehicles. In the build-up to the ban, meanwhile, Dan Marchant, Managing Director at the UK's largest online vaping retailer, Vape Club, and Co-Founder of the UK Vaping Industry Association, reported that disposable vape sales have increased by 50-100%, with some of the most popular flavours more than doubling according to his latest sales figures. "It's not surprising that adults who have been relying on these products to remain smoke-free are stockpiling ahead of the ban," Dan said. "It can take some time to find a replacement product that the user is comfortable with, so having enough disposables to get you by for a few weeks will be a safety blanket for those who are scared they may return to smoking otherwise." With the ban's introduction, just 48 hours away, Laura took to TikTok to share a video in response to one frustrated vaper who admitted he "doesn't know what to do" after the ban seemingly "crept up" on him. Laura highlighted the "interesting part" of the man's video - a part in which he simply stated he "just likes disposable ones". Laura continued: "It explains the problem - people just like disposable vapes. They don't want to use a reusable. They think it looks uncool and that's the reason they use disposable. "That's where the problem lies - they are very convenient, they are very cheap and they're easy just to use and then throw away. But that's the whole problem - every single disposable vape has a battery, a lithium ion battery and it's full of metals and minerals that are very precious. And then we are using that electronic device and then throwing it away." Writing in response, hundreds of Brits hailed the move including one who penned: "I see vape bars discarded everywhere, it's the right decision to ban them. If you are that addicted to flavoured air you need to seek help to stop." A second person added: "Thank God I won't have to look at bins completely covered in the little stickers from disposables or discarded ones all over the ground any more." A third TikTok user noted: "Vaping looks uncool regardless. I honestly think it looks embarrassing whatever way you do it, so he needn't worry too much about that. I can't wait for the ban, I work for a local authority litter department and they are an absolute menace." Whilst a fourth praised Laura's endeavours, saying: "Well done for achieving something which is really, genuinely impactful and important. I never even considered that each vape had a battery and it was just binned. I can't stand vapes, what a hideous invention they turned out to be." Others, however, pointed out problems amid the ban. One suggested: "The risk is this opens up a massive black market opportunity." Another sceptic told Laura: "Hate to burst your bubble, but many brands have added charging slots to their disposable vapes so they can continue selling. It doesn't make them any less disposable, nothing has really changed." A third vaper shared: "I've only ever used reusable vapes but I think this is unlikely to change much. The people who are littering with them will pay the extra and do exactly the same as they did before. If anything, bigger batteries will be left strewn around. A reusable is only a couple of £ more than disposables." And a fourth individual commented: "You can still get the disposable ones for the same price. But the batteries can be reused now. It's just that now you can replace the pods but they are basically the same. And they will get disposed of the same." Regarding the ban, the government's website states: "From 1 June 2025, it is illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes. It is also illegal to offer to sell or supply single-use vapes, or to stock single-use vapes that you plan to sell or supply. Single-use vapes are also known as disposable vapes. "The ban applies to: Sales online and in shops All vapes whether or not they contain nicotine "You must arrange to recycle any leftover stock of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025. You can still sell and supply vapes that are reusable." The government adds: "The ban applies to all businesses and organisations that sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK. This includes: Retailers – such as convenience stores, market stalls, petrol stations, specialist vape shops and supermarkets Manufacturers Wholesalers Importers Healthcare settings and stop smoking services. A vape is single-use if it either: Has a battery you cannot recharge Is not refillable To be reusable, a vape must have a: Rechargeable battery Refillable container that holds the vaping e-liquid (such as a chamber, capsule, cartridge, pod or tank) Removable and replaceable coil (if the vape contains a coil)." Those who supply single-use vapes from Sunday face fines of £200 with increased penalties for further offences.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Vapes being ‘stockpiled' ahead of Labour ban
Vape users are 'stockpiling' disposable devices ahead of a Labour ban that takes effect next month. Online vape shops are reporting that orders of some flavours have more than doubled in the past month as users try to hoard vapes that will soon be illegal to sell. Labour's ban on disposable vapes, first suggested by the Conservative government last January, will require vape users to buy reusable devices. It is part of a government crackdown on tobacco, after data showed the use of fruit-flavoured vapes had become widespread among children. New rules in effect from June 1 mean that corner shops, supermarkets and online tobacconists will no longer be allowed to sell 'single-use' devices. But a founder of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said users had begun to stockpile vapes while they were still legal. Dan Marchant, who also runs the online store Vape Club, said he had seen a 'significant uplift in disposable sales over the past three to four weeks' with increases of 50 to 100 per cent. 'The most popular flavours have more than doubled,' he said. It comes after trading standards officers warned councils that they lacked the funding to enforce the ban, or to stop the prolific sale of illicit tobacco. Mr Marchant said: 'It's not surprising that adults who have been relying on these products to remain smoke-free are stockpiling ahead of the ban. 'It can take some time to find a replacement product that the user is comfortable with, so having enough disposables to get you by for a few weeks will be a safety blanket for those who are scared they may return to smoking otherwise.' 'Limited impact on vaping' Previous research suggested that the use of disposable vapes was now falling among 16 to 24-year-olds, who are in one of the age groups that most heavily use the devices. A survey by University College London (UCL) found that the proportion of that group that uses disposable vapes fell from 63 per cent to 35 per cent in the last year. The researchers said most users were switching to refillable devices rather than giving up entirely, and that the ban would have 'limited impact' on vaping numbers overall. Government public health guidance says that vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking, but the long-term impacts of the habit are unknown. Announcing the ban last year, Andrew Gwynne, a former junior health minister, said banning disposables would 'reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people'.
Pembrokeshire Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Wales illegal vape hotspots revealed as over 30,000 devices seized in 2024
Calls grow for licensing scheme amid enforcement concerns NEW data has revealed the Welsh hotspots for illegal vape sales, with over 30,000 illicit and unregulated products seized in 2024 – the equivalent of one every 20 minutes. The worst-affected area was Newport, where Newport City Council confiscated more than 21,000 illegal vapes last year – an increase of 173% compared to 2023. The city accounted for a third of all illegal vape seizures in Wales. Over the past three years, 49 premises closure orders have been issued in the area. Flintshire recorded the second highest number of seizures, with 4,545 illicit vapes removed from sale – up 170% on the previous year. The findings come from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to 108 local authorities by Vape Club, and are published in the 2025 Illegal Vapes Report. The research lays bare the scale of the UK's growing illegal vape market. Wales' top five illegal vape hotspots in 2024 Newport City Council: 21,169 devices seized Flintshire County Council: 4,545 devices seized Carmarthenshire County Council: 1,850 devices seized Gwynedd Council: 721 devices seized Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council: 607 devices seized Despite 82 recorded instances of illegal vape sales in Wales last year, only five penalties were issued. Closure orders were served to just ten retailers – representing only 12% of reported cases. The figures have prompted growing concern over inadequate enforcement. Across the UK, 1.2 million illegal vapes were seized in 2024 – a 44% increase from the previous year. That equates to two illegal vapes seized every minute. Industry experts are calling for the introduction of a Vape Retailer and Distributor Licensing Scheme to help tackle the issue. Without stricter controls and additional resources for enforcement, they warn the illegal trade could surge – especially following the UK Government's planned ban on disposable vapes this June. Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club, said: 'The real issue of illicit vape sales lies in the inadequate enforcement of current regulations and the weak penalties for offenders. With the disposable vape ban coming into force, we risk a flood of dangerous, unregulated products entering the UK, all because the core issue has not been addressed. 'This boils down to lacklustre fines and no structured funding for Trading Standards. That's why we strongly support a robust retail and distribution licensing scheme, with revenues ringfenced for proactive enforcement. 'This funding could give Border Force the resources to stop more illegal products at the border, and allow Trading Standards to crack down on rogue retailers and impose meaningful penalties.'
