North East divided over disposable vape ban as local businesses brace for 2025 deadline
Written by Cian Mortimer on 20th October 2024
Simon Shepheard / Alamy Stock Photo
Businesses across the North East have until June 1, 2025, to clear disposable vapes from their shelves following the government’s announcement of a ban on single-use e-cigarettes.
This move, aimed at reducing environmental harm and protecting public health, has sparked significant debate across the North East.
Environmental campaigners argue that disposable vapes, often seen littered on the streets, contribute significantly to local pollution. Recycling these products also poses significant difficulties, as their batteries contain hazardous materials that can harm wildlife.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, a regional initiative focused on reducing tobacco and alcohol harm, said: “We welcome this legislation which is being introduced on environmental rather than health grounds and it is also important to remember that tobacco butts are lethally toxic to the environment. However, removing disposable vapes from sale will also protect children – we have seen that some children have been using vapes which no parent wants.”
The rise of youth vaping is another issue that has drawn attention as e-cigarettes have become trendier and available in an endless variety of colours and flavours in shop windows, rates of vaping amongst children have shot up.
An NHS study focusing on children aged 11-15 revealed that girls in the North East displayed the highest rate of vaping in England, with 15% identified as “current e-cigarette users.” Additionally, 5% of all secondary school students were classified as “regular e-cigarette users.”
Rutter added: “We recognize the appeal of disposable vapes to children, and it is important that evidence-based policies are taken to reduce this appeal, and that access to them needs to be addressed alongside plans to create a smoke-free future for the next generation. The last thing we want is for children to get hooked on lethal tobacco which kills 2 in 3 lifelong smokers.”
However, the issue may not be as straightforward as it appears. There are concerns that the ban may undermine the role played by vaping in helping people quit smoking and could lead to a surge in black market activity.
Rutter said: “Despite welcoming the ban, we also have to recognize that single-use vapes have played an important role for people to quit smoking—especially people with serious mental illness or older people who have been benefitting from a simple, easy-to-use alternative and significantly less harmful form of nicotine delivery.”
Dr. Marina Murphy, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at Haypp, expressed concerns about the potential rise of illegal markets.
Murphy said: “The illegal market for disposable vapes will undoubtedly grow. This is worrying since there is no way of ensuring product safety, as black-market products often are counterfeit and have no third-party testing. I also believe there will be an increase in the illegal import of disposable vapes.”
The move is the latest step towards the government’s goal of achieving a smoke-free UK. It remains to be seen if the ban will have the intended effect, but one thing is certain: this debate is not going away anytime soon.
