The government’s upcoming ban on disposable vapes, which is set to come into force on June 1, has sparked considerable debate in the vaping community and beyond. While the intention behind the ban is clear – to curb youth vaping – new research published by University College London (UCL) raises questions about the effectiveness of this approach in reducing overall vaping rates. In fact, the findings suggest that banning disposable vapes may not have the desired impact, and could even lead to unintended consequences.
Riot, a leading voice in the vaping industry, has long advocated for policies that strike the right balance between public health and environmental responsibility. The research published by UCL underlines an important point that we have been consistently raising: banning a product doesn’t necessarily solve the problem.
Shifting Away from Disposables: But Not Stopping Vaping
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, looked at vaping trends over a two-year period, covering responses from over 88,000 people across England, Wales, and Scotland. What the researchers found was that vaping rates, particularly among adults aged 16 and over, had increased from 8.9% to 13.5% between January 2022 and January 2024. However, the most significant shift in the data came in the form of disposable vape usage.
In January 2024, nearly 44% of vapers primarily used disposable vapes. By the following year, that figure had fallen to just under 30%. Among young adults, aged 16 to 24, the decline was even steeper. While the drop in disposable vape usage is significant, it does not suggest a reduction in overall vaping. Instead, it points to a shift in preference toward refillable and reusable devices.
Dr. Sarah Jackson, lead author of the study, noted that the government’s ban on disposable vapes, which has been positioned as a key part of the strategy to curb youth vaping, may have limited impact on overall vaping rates. “It seems likely that people using these products will move to reusable versions rather than stop vaping completely,” she said. This shift reinforces the argument that banning a single product does not address the broader issue of vaping or smoking cessation.
The Government’s Focus: Youth Vaping or Smokers Quitting?
While the government has framed the ban on disposable vapes as a measure to prevent youth from taking up vaping, the UCL research suggests that this approach may miss the mark. Vaping is widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for smokers trying to quit, with significantly fewer health risks than smoking traditional cigarettes. Banning disposable vapes could risk taking away a vital product that many smokers rely on to kick their cigarette habit.
The research suggests that while the overall prevalence of vaping among adults has stalled since the announcement of the ban, the reality is that vapers are simply switching to alternative products. Rather than stopping altogether, users are opting for refillable, reusable devices. This suggests that banning disposable vapes will not necessarily result in fewer people vaping, but rather a change in the types of products people use.
At Riot, we believe that the real issue is not the products themselves, but how we regulate and support vaping as a harm reduction tool. The government’s focus on disposable vapes risks distracting from the bigger picture — smokers need effective products to help them quit. And while we fully support measures to reduce the environmental impact of disposable vapes, this ban does not appear to be the solution to reducing smoking rates or preventing youth uptake.
The Bigger Concern: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill
The research from UCL is only part of the picture. The Government’s broader approach to vaping is outlined in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to restrict the packaging, marketing, and flavours of e-cigarettes. These proposed changes could have a significant impact on how vaping products are marketed and consumed in the UK.
Riot has long been vocal about our concerns with the bill. While we understand the Government’s desire to protect young people from vaping, we are deeply concerned that the measures outlined in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill could undermine the ability of adult smokers to access the tools they need to quit. Limiting the availability of flavours, for example, could reduce the appeal of e-cigarettes for smokers trying to make the switch from cigarettes. In fact, our own research, which spoke to 2,000 vapers on the ground, revealed that 82% of respondents would consider going back to cigarettes if a flavour ban were enforced.
As Dr. Sarah Jackson, lead author of the UCL study, pointed out, “Action is likely still required to reduce high vaping rates, but now that the situation has stabilised, policymakers may be reassured that it would be sensible to avoid stricter policy options currently under review.” What this means is that while action to reduce vaping is still needed, there is a clear need for caution in implementing stricter measures. Some of the more extreme options under consideration may have the unintended consequence of deterring smokers from using vapes to quit smoking entirely.
Professor Jamie Brown, also of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, emphasized that while it’s understandable for policymakers to want to act on youth vaping, we cannot lose sight of the fact that smoking remains the number one public health priority. “These findings should reassure policymakers that they can prioritise measures, such as restrictions on marketing, packaging and display, which are least likely to undermine how helpful vapes are for people trying to quit smoking,” he said.
Moreover, Professor Brown highlighted the importance of introducing these measures alongside policies that continue to support smokers in their efforts to quit, such as mass media campaigns and the ‘Swap to Stop’ scheme. This balance is crucial — we can’t afford to undermine vaping’s role as a vital harm reduction tool for adults trying to quit smoking.
A Call for Smarter Regulation
The latest research from UCL serves as a timely reminder that policy decisions must be grounded in evidence. While the environmental concerns around disposable vapes are valid and should be addressed, the government’s current approach risks missing the mark when it comes to public health. Banning disposable vapes may lead to unintended consequences, including shifting vapers to alternative products without reducing overall vaping rates.
At Riot, we support the need for regulation that encourages sustainability, but we also believe in the importance of making sure that smokers who want to quit have access to the best possible tools. The focus should not be on banning products, but on creating a regulatory framework that supports harm reduction while addressing environmental concerns.
The UCL study suggests that the government’s decision to ban disposable vapes may have limited impact on overall vaping rates, especially since many vapers are already moving towards refillable alternatives. With the impending Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the horizon, we have greater concerns about the broader regulatory landscape and the potential impact on smokers’ ability to access effective tools to quit smoking.
The time has come for a more balanced, evidence-based approach to vaping regulation — one that addresses both public health and environmental concerns without inadvertently restricting access to the very products that could help smokers quit. It’s time to rethink the strategy and ensure that policies are designed with the right priorities in mind.
