UK government announces ban on disposable e-cigarettes from 2025

The British government has announced new legislation that would crack down on single-use vapes from June of next year, calling the product wasteful.

The move is a step towards both protecting the environment and curbing the use of vapes by young people, the UK health and environment departments said in a joint statement.

Single-use vapes are not rechargeable and are often thrown away or littered, they added.

“It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today,” said Andrew Gwynne, who is public health and prevention minister.

“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people”.

The previous UK government had also planned to ban disposable e-cigarettes, saying that they had caused a major increase in vaping among young people.

Rise in vaping

A recent survey in England found that one million adults in England who did not regularly smoke have now taken up vaping.

The increase was primarily driven by young people, with 14 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old non-regular smokers now using e-cigarettes.

In their joint statement on Thursday, the health and environment departments added that vape usage has increased in England by more than 400 per cent between 2012 and 2023.

Nearly 5 million single-use vapes are thrown away every week, according to an estimate from the recycling non-profit group Material Focus last year, which said the number was fourfold higher than their previous estimate the year prior.

The ban, which is subject to approval in parliament, means businesses have until June 1, 2025, to sell the remaining stock.

It is expected that enforcement dates will be aligned with devolved governments. The Welsh government has also confirmed the June date for the legislation entering into force.

Several European countries have planned to ban disposable vapes as well, with the European Commission approving French legislation to do so last month.

The Commission approved Belgian legislation banning disposable e-cigarettes earlier in the year.

While vaping is much less harmful than cigarette smoking, it’s not “completely harmless,” and is only recommended for adult smokers as a smoking cessation tool, according to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).