The UK Disposable Vape Ban: Implications and Alternatives

In March 2024, the UK government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill banning single-use disposable vapes. The ban on single-use disposable vapes will take effect on the 1st June 2025. The primary goal is to combat underage vaping.

Why the UK is banning the sale and supply of single-use vapes

Single-use vapes are not rechargeable or refillable, making them an inefficient use of critical resources. They are often discarded as litter or thrown into residual (non-recycled) waste. Littering spoils our communities, introduces harmful substances into the soil, rivers and streams, and causes harm to biodiversity. When single-use vapes are thrown into black bins they often end up in landfill or are incinerated, which means critical resources are lost. They can also cause fires, which risks the safety of waste management workers, firefighters and the public.

To stop this, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are banning the sale and supply of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025.

What will be banned, and what will be allowed?

According to the government, a disposable vape is defined as “a product that’s neither designed nor intended for reuse.” The upcoming ban will encompass both nicotine and nicotine-free single-use vapes.

To remain legal, a vape device must be both rechargeable and refillable.

Pod- or cartridge-based vapes that use pre-filled and disposable pods are allowed, as long as replacement pods are available and sold separately.

A device that is refilled with bottled e-liquid must either have replaceable coils that are available and sold separately, or prefilled (or refillable) pods that are available and sold separately.

Replaceable batteries are not mandatory as long as the device is rechargeable. For instance, vape mods with sealed internal batteries are permitted if they can be recharged via a USB connection.

Definition of a reuseable vape

To be reusable, a vape must: 

  • have a battery you can recharge
  • be refillable with vape liquid

If the vape has a coil, it must be one that can be replaced by an average user – this includes any part of the product that heats or generates a vapour when interacting with the product’s ingredients.  

The vape may be refilled by either: 

  • filling up the tank or cartridge with e-liquid 
  • inserting new pre-filled pods 

Refills (pods or vape liquid refill bottles) should be separately available for users to buy. 

If the vape has a coil, it may be replaced by either:  

  • removing and replacing it 
  • removing and replacing a pod or tank that contains it