The sale of disposable vapes will be banned by next summer, the government has said.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed on Wednesday (October 23) that new legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes has been laid out in Parliament.

It added that businesses will have until the deadline “to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force”.

The government has confirmed the ban will begin on June 1, 2025.

Defra explained that the UK government and devolved governments had worked closely on the ban and would “align coming into force dates.” Welsh ministers soon confirmed June 1 and Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit.

Is smoking going to be banned in the UK?

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said single-use vapes were “extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities”.

Ms Creagh added: “That is why we are banning single-use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture.

“This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”

Last year, it was estimated that almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK – nearly four times as much as the previous year.

Defra said vape usage in England had grown by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1% of the British public now buying and using the products.

Recommended reading:

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “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.

“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.

“The government will also introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – the biggest public health intervention in a generation – which will protect young people from becoming hooked on nicotine and pave the way for a smoke-free UK.”