A new survey reveals that the UK’s impending ban on disposable vapes, set to take effect on 1st June 2025, could drive a significant portion of vapers towards illicit products and potentially reverse progress in reducing smoking rates. Commissioned by Evapo, a leading UK vaping retailer, the survey highlights growing concerns about the ban and planned tax increases, which could reshape the vaping landscape and undermine public health goals.

Risks of vape ban and price hikes

The survey, conducted in April 2025 with 726 UK-based participants, including current and former users of disposable vapes, paints a troubling picture. Key findings include:

• Illicit market appeal. 61% of disposable vape users said they would consider purchasing illicit vapes if they were readily available after the ban, raising fears of an unregulated market boom.
• Return to smoking. Nearly 30% of respondents indicated that rising vaping costs due to taxation could push them back to smoking traditional cigarettes.
• Stockpiling plans. 57% of disposable vapers would consider stockpiling vapes before the ban, suggesting demand may shift underground rather than disappear.
• Impact on quit attempts. 44% of participants believe increased vaping costs could both drive vapers back to smoking and deter smokers from switching to vaping as a cessation tool.

The survey underscores vaping’s role in smoking cessation. 67% of disposable vape users reported that these products helped them quit smoking entirely, while 93% credited vaping in general with their success in quitting. These figures highlight the potential health risks of restricting access to regulated vaping products, particularly for adult smokers relying on them as alternatives to cigarettes.

“These findings highlight a very real unintended consequence,” said Andrej Kuttruf, CEO of Evapo. “Whilst the intent behind the disposable vape ban and tax increases are understandable, the reality is that a significant number of consumers are signalling they may turn to unregulated, potentially unsafe products or even return to smoking.”

The disposable vape ban, announced by the UK government in January 2024 and confirmed in October 2024, aims to curb youth vaping and address environmental concerns. Disposable vapes, which are neither rechargeable nor refillable, contribute to litter and electronic waste, with an estimated five million discarded weekly in the UK, according to Material Focus. The ban aligns with the government’s broader Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which includes measures to restrict vape flavours, packaging, and displays to reduce appeal to children.

But the survey suggests the ban could have unintended consequences. International examples support this concern. In Australia, heavy restrictions on nicotine vapes led to a surge in illicit sales, with over one million non-compliant products seized in 2022-23, according to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration. Similarly, in Massachusetts, US, patchwork bans resulted in increased seizures of untaxed and counterfeit vaping devices, often posing safety risks.

The UK government plans to bolster enforcement with an additional £30 million annually for agencies tackling illicit tobacco and vaping product sales. From October 2026, a new vaping products duty of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid will also increase costs by 60-75%, according to Evapo’s estimates. Critics warn that without accessible alternatives and robust education campaigns, these measures could fuel a black market and discourage smokers from quitting.

“Supporting responsible adult vaping and maintaining access to safer alternatives is critical if we want to continue reducing smoking in the UK,” Andrej Kuttruf added.