When are disposable vapes being banned in the UK?

DISPOSABLE vapes are set to be banned under new laws to prevent children from becoming addicted to them.

Measures will also be introduced to e-cigarettes from being marketed to kids and to target underage sales.

The Scottish and Welsh governments will also ban single-use vapes, like the trendy Elfbar and Lost Mary brands.

What is a disposable vape?

Disposable vapes do not need setting up, refilling, or recharging.

On average, a disposable vape can provide anywhere from 200 to 800 puffs.

They have become increasingly popular because they are cheap, easy to buy and are billed as "healthier" than traditional cigarettes.

Vapes are sold in supermarkets and corner shops around the UK.

They come in sweet and fruity flavours such as bubblegum, strawberry lemonade, and blueberry.

Why is the government banning disposable vapes?

Disposable vapes are being banned in a bid to prevent children from becoming addicted to them.

Health chiefs say the the devices are blatantly designed to appeal to youngsters and are being illegally sold in corner shops next to sweets for as little as £3.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year admitted he was afraid his 10 and 12-year-old daughters would take up vaping.

The PM said in May: “Vaping should be promoted for those adults who currently smoke because it's a much less riskier activity than smoking nicotine based cigarettes.

“They shouldn't be deliberately targeting children – that's illegal.”

The number of youngsters vaping tripled in three years, with nine per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds using them.

Other measures being considered as part of the crackdown include introducing plain packaging.

Trading standards officers will be able to dish out on-the-spot fines to shops illegally selling vapes to kids, on top of the £2,500 penalty currently imposed by councils.

The changes are part of a government response to a consultation on smoking and vaping last October.

It follows last year's announcement of a ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, as part of an attempt to create a "smoke-free generation".

Other countries have already taken action on vaping.

Australia has banned all forms of vaping, while Germany has outlawed all flavoured e-cigarettes.

New Zealand has also stopped disposable vapes, while vaping is also illegal in India, Uganda, Singapore and many other countries.

When will disposable vapes be banned?

The changes are expected to come into force towards the end of this year or in early 2025. 

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

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told BBC Breakfast that ministers "want to help children avoid the horrendous pull of a nicotine habit which for which vapes can very often be the gateway".

She said banning disposable vapes will most likely come into force early next year.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, said parents would be "extremely relieved" at the proposals.

"When I asked children a couple of years ago about all aspects of their health and wellbeing, I was shocked and concerned to hear from children as young as 12 who told me that vaping was normalised among their peers - even on school premises," she said.

"This announcement will help tackle that issue, and I know that many children and parents will be extremely relieved."

What are the side effects of using a disposable vape?

Many studies show that vaping is far less harmful than smoking.

This is because e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, which is linked to causing cancer.

But vapes are not risk-free and contain nicotine, which has been linked to heart problems.

They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick.

It has also been reported that vapes have been linked to at least five deaths in Britain.

How many cigarettes are in a disposable vape?

If one disposable contains 2mls of vape juice, it is roughly equivalent to one pack of 20 cigarettes.

Vapes containing 10mls of e-juice equates to approximately 100 cigarettes.