![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_253807822-588a.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe popular, colourful vapes are now banned in the UK (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe popular, colourful vapes are now banned in the UK (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Fancy a disposable Elfbar <\/a>or Lost Mary? You\u2019re out of luck. As of today, disposable\u00a0vapes are now banned from the shelves of all shops in the UK.<\/p>\n The crackdown on the devices, also known as single-use\u00a0vapes, makes it illegal for any retailer, ranging from corner shops to supermarkets, to sell them.<\/p>\n The ban applies to both online and in-store sales across England<\/a>, Scotland<\/a>, Wales<\/a> and Northern Ireland<\/a>, and all disposable\u00a0vapes, whether or not they contain nicotine.<\/p>\n Retailers are still allowed to sell reusable\u00a0vapes. The single-use vape ban follows the soaring use of them in schools and a flood of plastic rubbish from the discarding of the devices.<\/p>\n Disposable\u00a0vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste in black bins or littered rather than recycled.<\/p>\n Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.<\/p>\n \t\t Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of \u00a3200 in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending.<\/p>\n The Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) found the number of\u00a0vapers in Great Britain who mainly use single-use devices fell from 30% in 2024 to 24% in 2025.<\/p>\n The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said usage among young\u00a0vapers remained too high, and the ban would \u2018put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation\u2019s streets\u2019.<\/p>\n Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: \u2018For too long, single-use\u00a0vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today. The Government calls time on these nasty devices.\u2019<\/p>\n Ash deputy chief executive Caroline Cerny said: \u2018It\u2019s promising to see that many people switched away from disposable\u00a0vapes to re-usable products well ahead of the ban. <\/p>\n \u2018This is particularly marked among young people, who were more likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and heavy marketing.<\/p>\n \u2018If behaviour does not change then further regulations will be possible following the passage of the Tobacco and\u00a0Vapes Bill.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman added: \u2018We strongly support robust enforcement activity, starting with the businesses that are already openly flouting the rules by selling illicit products and who will continue to sell disposable\u00a0vapes once they\u2019re outlawed.\u2019<\/p>\n The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said its members had moved quickly to bring new fully compliant products to market well ahead of the June 1 deadline, but warned of \u2018serious unintended consequences\u2019. <\/p>\n \u2018Vaping was invented to help adult smokers quit and disposable products became the most successful\u00a0vape\u00a0products to do so because they are simple to use and most closely replicate the sensation of smoking,\u2019 UKVIA director general John Dunne said.<\/p>\n \u2018We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes \u2013 which kill 220 people every day in the UK \u2013 to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated\u00a0vapes.<\/p>\n \u2018We also have clear evidence, from countries including the USA and Australia, showing that black market, counterfeit and illicit\u00a0vape\u00a0sales spiked when\u00a0vape\u00a0bans and restrictions are introduced.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_253785726-c593.jpg\")
\n\t\tColourful displays in shops could disappear very soon (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_189213065-b494.jpg\")
\n\t\tReusable vapes will still be available to buy (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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