Disposable vapes will be banned in England starting in June under a government plan announced on Thursday, aimed at protecting young people's health and reducing waste.
Single-use vapes, often sold in brightly colored packaging, have become the "product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today," according to Andrew Gwynne, the minister for public health and prevention.
An estimated five million disposable vapes are discarded each week in Britain, as reported by the government.
The proposed ban, which requires Parliament's approval, seeks to prevent plastic, lead, and mercury from single-use vapes from leaching into the environment. It also aims to address issues related to the disposal of lithium-ion batteries, which pose a fire risk to workers in the waste industry and often require manual disassembly at recycling facilities.
Mary Creagh, an environment minister, described single-use vapes as "extremely wasteful," stating that the initiative is part of efforts to combat Britain’s "throwaway culture."
Similar bans are being considered in Scotland and Wales, with plans to align the implementation dates in 2025. The idea of banning disposable vapes in England was initially proposed by the previous government in January but was not enacted before the general election in July.
John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, criticized the ban, arguing it could lead to an increase in illegal sales. He suggested a licensing initiative for retailers to prevent sales to minors instead of an outright ban.
"Bans are not the answer," he stated, referencing experiences in other countries like Australia. He emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws that prohibit selling vapes to children under 18 and compliance with environmental regulations.
Currently, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 in Britain. However, a quarter of individuals aged 11 to 15 in England reported using a vape last year, with vape usage increasing more than fourfold from 2012 to 2023, according to the National Health Service.
The long-term health effects of vaping remain unclear, although nicotine is known to be highly addictive. The vaping industry claims its products offer a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, but government officials have expressed concerns about the appeal of single-use vapes to children due to their marketing and packaging.
Research indicates a significant rise in the number of young people vaping without prior experience with cigarettes.
If Parliament approves the ban, businesses in England will have until June 1 to sell any remaining stock.