A ban on disposable vapes will go into effect across the UK starting tomorrow, Sunday. The ban has been issued with an alarming warning about the life-threatening dangers of stockpiling.
It will become illegal for any business to sell, supply, or possess the object for sale, all disposable vapes. This means disposable vapes will be banned from the shelves of all shops from 1st June, thanks to the government’s blitz on sale and supply.
The United Kingdom is the first country to ban single-use vapes. In the previous year, the Australian government restricted the import of all disposable vapes into the country. This year, Belgium becomes the first country to ban of sale of single-use vapes.
The UK government is targeting to restrict the sale of vapes that are designed to be purchased, consumed, and disposed of without refilling them. Under the new regulations, vapes to be legally sold in the UK need to be both refillable and rechargeable.
The Junior Environment Minister, Mary Creagh, said that for too long, the disposable vapes have blighted the streets as litter and hooked the children on nicotine. She added that the government was calling time on these nasty devices. These are a type of e-cigarette that is very popular among young people.
She also said that the banning of disposable vapes is a crackdown on UK corner shops and supermarkets. The businesses that violate the ban will face a 200-pound fine, The repeat offenders may face up to two years in prison.
The young people and children had been attracted to cheap and colourful single-use vapes, which have chic flavours, such as chocolate, mint, mango, or watermelon. These vapes have been introduced in the UK market since 2021.
Online nicotine retailer Haypp said that 82% of customers are among the 369 surveyed to bulk purchase these single-use vapes before they are no longer available. The vapes contain lithium batteries, so they must be stored correctly, otherwise, they may catch fire.
Following a survey done by Haypp, it was found that more than a third of people would consider purchasing an illegal vape after the ban.
The shops that sell vapes need to offer a “take-back” service, where they must accept the vape or part of it returned by any customer for recycling.
The LGA (Local Government Association) led the call for a ban two years ago, and is warning people not to stockpile.
Dr Jack Jakobs, a GP in Hamstreet, Kent, said that vaping is a concerning issue for young and developing lungs. He added that the health concerns are well-documented at present. Vaping can cause damage to the lungs, and high doses of nicotine can lead to heart arrhythmia.
He also said that he thinks the ban sends a message about the dangers and will help to reduce the variety available.
