The number of young people who vape worldwide continues to grow year upon year thanks, in part, to single-use vapes that are available in various sweet flavors for low prices.

According to a2024 report, “As long as vapes remain widely available, desirable, and purposefully marketed towards young people, we believe our best defense is self-defense.”

One way that governments are using “self-defense” to protect young people who vape is to place restrictions on their purchases. As of 1 June 2025, theUK government has banned the sale and supply of single-use vapes.

Here, we look at the reasons behind this move to ban the sale of single-use vapes and what people should expect from the ban. 

Background: Rise of Vaping in the UK

According to areport on vaping trends in England, “nicotine use appears to be rising, driven primarily by sharp increases in vaping among young people.”

This continuous growth of vaping among young people is one of the main reasons why the UK government is introducing new regulations.

Vaping arrived in the UK in the mid-2000s but remained niche until the vape scene took off in the early 2010s. According toAction on Smoking and Health’s 2024 survey of 

UK residents, “The proportion of current vaping among 11-17-year-olds is still significantly up from pre-pandemic levels (7.6% in 2024 compared to 4.4% in 2019).” 

Government Concerns Prompting the Ban

Health Risks

The Executive Summary: Understanding the vaping market is a government report exploring the UK vaping market. The report found “one of the top reasons given for vaping was it being a healthier alternative to smoking (37%).”

However, there is mounting evidence to suggest there are long-term health effects of vaping that are often ignored or misunderstood by many people who take up vaping, especially young people.

According to a2024 study, “no matter how much nicotine an e-cigarette contains, evidence shows that using it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, albeit maybe not as much as smoking regular tobacco.” 

In addition to scientific studies on the impact of e-cigarettes on health, anecdotal reports suggest respiratory issues are happening earlier, and young people who vape are increasing the levels of nicotine in the vapes they use. 

Youth Vaping Epidemic

The Executive Summary reported, “For those consuming mostly disposable vapes, social and enjoyment factors were the most important reasons why they vaped. The survey showed that 26% of users of disposable vapes reported starting vaping without previous experience of smoking.”

The summary also found “the social aspect of vaping was an important part of its appeal, with current vapers, young people in particular, described vaping as a ‘key part’ of the way they socialise with friends,” and “Users of disposable vapes were broadly younger than users of reusable products.

For instance, 32% of disposable vape users were aged 18-24, and this was significantly higher than the 11% of reusable product users who were aged 18-24.” 

Several factors contribute to the younger population’s attraction to single-use vapes, including the sweet candy-like flavor options, funky designs, social pressure, and marketing tactics aimed directly at them through social media.

The Action on Smoking survey reported, “Exposure to vape marketing remains high among young people; only 19% say they don’t see vapes being promoted. Young people are most likely to see vapes promoted in shops (55%), followed by online (29%). TikTok is where 11-17-year-olds most frequently report seeing online promotion.” 

There is compounding evidence to suggest early nicotine exposure can be extremely harmful to the developing brain. According to a2023 study, “Despite marketed safety of noncombustible products and e-cigarettes, exposure to nicotine alone can drive these negative effects on the brain and behavior.” 

Environmental Impact

According to theUK's defra environment blog, "Material Focus estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK. That's the equivalent of eight being thrown away per second."

Not only does this produce massive plastic and electronic waste, but it also wastes valuable resources like cobalt and copper. The materials used in vapes, including lithium batteries, make them difficult to recycle easily.

The disposable nature of single-use vapes also means they are more likely to be thrown in the regular trash after use. 

Legislative Response

These factors have led to the government enacting a complete ban on disposable vapes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. TheUK Gov statementon the ban states: 

"You cannot sell or supply any single-use vapes to customers from June 1 2025. You must arrange for any leftover stock to be recycled. You put your business at risk of commercial loss and legal enforcement action if you do not responsibly recycle single-use vape stocks by June 1 2025."

The ban on single-use vapes is part of the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill has passed its first and second readings in parliament and attempts to create a "smoke-free generation." It also includes a move to ban sales of nicotine products to anyone bornon or after January 1, 2009. 

The Border Force, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), and Trading Standards are working together to enforce the ban on single-use vapes in the UK. 

Public and Industry Reactions

Public Opinion

The British Medical Association has long called for a ban on single-use vapes. BMA Board of Science chair Professor David Strain and BMA Public Health Medicine Committee chair Dr Heather Grimbaldeston said in arecent interview:

 “Today is a welcome advance in the battle against an epidemic that threatens the health of our children and young people, and our planet.” 

In addition to health advocates, parents of young people who have become addicted to vaping are supportive of the ban. However, some members of the UK public disagree with the ban.

Adult users and long-term smokers of combustible cigarettes who have switched to vaping are disappointed with the ban. The ban only covers vapes that are “not rechargeable and/or not refillable,” meaning these adults can still vape if they switch to a reusable vape. 

Industry Pushback

While the ban is welcomed by both health advocates and parents of children susceptible to targeted ads on vaping, there is strong opposition from industry sectors who argue the banning of single-use vapes will hurt the economy and small businesses like vape shops, lead to a rise in less regulated black market vapes that could be even more dangerous for young people, and ultimately kickstart former smokers to smoking combustible cigarettes again.  

International Context

Vaping regulations are different in every country. The following countries have introduced notable restrictions on the purchase and sale of vapes:

• Japan banned the sale of all vapes in 2010.  

• Australia banned the import of disposable vapes in January 2024. Australian residents can also only purchase refillable vapes from pharmacies with a prescription. 

• Mexico introduced a complete ban on all vapes in January 2025.

• Belgium banned the sale of disposable vapes in January 2025.

• France banned disposable vapes in February 2025. 

• Other countries with complete bans on refillable and disposable vapes include (but are not limited to) Thailand, India, and Brazil.

The only federal restriction on the sale of vapes in the U.S. is the age restriction of 21. Some states, like California and New York, prohibit the sale of flavored nicotine products. The UK is one of the latest countries to place restrictions on the sale of disposable vapes. However, it has not banned all vaping products like some countries around the world. 

The Future of Vaping in the UK

The UK’s disposable vape ban could reduce underage vaping and significantly cut vape litter. Critics argue users might just switch to refillable vapes or return to smoking instead.

Alternatives to curb youth vaping could include stricter age enforcement with heavy fines for shops who break the rules, and packaging rules similar to the UK’s 2016 plain cigarette packaging law, which helped lower smoking rates.

Conclusion

The UK government’s decision to ban disposable vapes is driven by rising levels of youth vaping and the environmental harm from millions of littered vapes and vapes sent to landfill each year. 

Critics see the move as government overreach that limits personal freedom, while supporters view it as a victory for protecting young people and the planet.

People who vape in the UK and are concerned about the ban can still make the switch to a refillable vape and continue to buy vape liquid after the ban comes into effect.