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Disposable Vape Sales Banned Across UK as New Fines Take Effect

The government intends to curb teen vaping through a shift toward reusable e-cigarettes that should also ease plastic waste burdens.

FILE - Pedestrians pass a vape shop in London, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
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Overview

  • From June 1, retailers face £200 fines for first offences and unlimited penalties or jail time for repeat sales of single-use vapes.
  • The ban outlaws all disposable devices in both online and in-store outlets across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Consumers stockpiled disposables ahead of the ban, prompting warnings over fire and chemical risks from improperly stored lithium batteries.
  • Manufacturers and the UK Vaping Industry Association say they have pivoted quickly to reusable models but caution that black-market sales and smoking relapse may rise.
  • Lawmakers are progressing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which could impose new limits on e-cigarette packaging, marketing and flavours.