Should disposable vapes be banned?

The government has announced a deadline for the removal of disposable vapes from retail outlets, with shops being advised to clear their stock by June 1, 2025.

This decision is in response to growing concerns about the uptake of smoking and vaping habits among children, who find single-use vapes easily accessible. These products have surged in popularity over recent years, and you can see and smell them everywhere you go.

Authorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit. The Mirror reports that there are now one million individuals in England who have taken up vaping without having previously smoked on a regular basis.

Environmental issues are also at the forefront of the government's agenda, with an estimated five million disposable vapes discarded weekly as waste or litter. Each device, a combination of plastic and battery, poses significant recycling challenges and often ends up in landfills, potentially releasing harmful chemicals into the soil.

In 2022 alone, around 40 tonnes of lithium from vape batteries were reportedly wasted.

Have your say! Did you or someone you know get good use out of disposable vapes? How much do you see them as litter in your area? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, aimed at assisting smokers to quit, vapes are increasingly promoted as a fashionable "lifestyle choice", featuring a wide array of flavours and eye-catching designs.

Despite it being illegal to sell a vape to a child, these devices are still ending up in the hands of youngsters. Health Minister Andrew Gwynne expressed his concern, stating: "It's deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today."

The prohibition, along with other initiatives limiting the advertising of vapes and other nicotine products, form part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This Bill was drafted by the previous Conservative government but was put on hold due to the election.

However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the remainder of the Bill will be introduced before Christmas.

The Bill also includes a change in the age limit for purchasing cigarettes and tobacco products. This will affect anyone born after January 1 2009, with the measures aimed at creating a "smoke-free Britain".

Have your say! Did you or someone you know get good use out of disposable vapes? How much do you see them as litter in your area? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.