The government is planning to ban disposable vapes as part of a package of new measures to restrict the vape category. The new measures will come in to force within a year, either at the end of 2024 or in early 2025.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the new restrictions are aimed at tackling youth vaping.

“As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, so we must act before it becomes endemic,” he said.

Alongside the ban on disposable vapes will be rules on the rest of the category. These include new powers to restrict vape flavours, an introduction of plain packaging, and changes to how vapes can be displayed in shops. Sunak explained that these changes were intended to keep vapes “out of sight of children and away from products that appeal to them, like sweets”.

Illicit market

Retailers have responded strongly to the news.

“The government is cutting their nose to spite their face,” said Ron Patel, Ron’s News, Droitwich in Worcestershire. “The illicit market is booming, and the government is helping it along.”

Trudy Davies, Woosnam and Davies News Llanidloes, Powys echoed this sentiment. She agreed the new legislation would do little to tackle the problem of illicit sales. “They’re targeting the wrong people because they’re banning it for the people selling them responsibly. It’s very worrying,” she said.

“There are a lot of people in small and family businesses. They’re on the fine line of making a profit or considering giving up. For me, it’s a quarter of my wages gone [if disposable vapes can no longer be sold]. We need a long-term strategy so we can plan. A lot of independent retailers are thinking what to do next. They’re asking what the point is in investing in the next thing? The government can just pull the rug out from under your feet. I can’t think what I’d replace that area with.”

‘What are we supposed to be selling?’

Ian Lewis, of Spar Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire, said a world without disposable vapes “would be weird”. He believes the ban on disposables will have a massive effect on his business.

“This is huge for us. Disposables provide such a fantastic margin, in the 40-60% range. The ban will impact us hugely. It feels like it’s in everyone’s basket spend now. It’ll damage the overall margin of the store,” Lewis said.

Concerns over the impact of the disposable vape legislation were shared by Nishi Patel, of Londis Bexleyheath in Kent. Patel warns the ban comes at a time independent retailers are already up against it.

“There’s nothing out there with strong margins that sells like disposable vapes,” he said. “A lot of [retailers] are on the rope, stuff has spiralled out of control with rent and wages. It’s going to ruin a lot of people, especially with the cigarette ban – what are we supposed to be selling? Retailers will just give up, some already are.”

Wider industry concerns

Concerns over the impact of the new legislation aren’t limited to retailers. They’re being echoed throughout the industry.

“We’re one of the biggest suppliers of vaping products across the UK,” said Chris Kelly, director of vape marketing agency Phoenix 2 Retail. “It would pose challenges as to how to mitigate the transition period. Many businesses like mine will be challenged – they have millions of pounds worth of inventory. 

“The focus should be on how we don’t restrict the opportunity for adults [to access vaping products], it should be about how to make vapes more sustainable, and work on recycling initiatives. Banning single use is risky because we already have a large illicit market in the UK. The ban could feed it further.”

Green benefit

However, some retailers have been more receptive to the news. Shahid Ali, a multi-site Morrisons retailer in Aberdeen, pointed out the environmental imprint of the disposables market.

“I agree they need to ban single use vapes. They cause far too much environmental damage,” he said.

“I didn’t realise how much it was causing until we put in a recycling bin, and we saw it fill up with almost 10kgs right away. We were shocked. I welcome it, convenience stores have nothing to worry about, because we’re best positioned to sell pods.”

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