Switzerland is the latest country to crack down on disposable vapes after the Swiss Senate voted to support a ban on their sale.
The decision backs a motion previously passed by the House of Representatives. It puts the country on course to outlaw single-use vapes, despite rising concerns from public health experts and consumer advocates.
The move comes amid a broader European trend of targeting disposable vapes, largely in response to fears over youth uptake and environmental impact. But critics warn that lawmakers risk removing proven harm reduction tools that help adult smokers quit.
Disposable vapes have been legally available in Switzerland since 2020. They’ve since grown in popularity, especially among adult smokers seeking a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes.
Public Health England (now the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities) has previously estimated that vaping is at least 95 per cent less harmful than smoking, and recent studies show disposables are one of the most effective tools for helping smokers quit.
Youth appeal and environmental concerns
However, Swiss politicians supporting the ban are zeroing in on youth appeal and environmental concerns.
Green Party MP Christophe Clivaz, who led the motion, claimed the trend is rising among younger people and that some disposables exceed the legal limit of 20 mg/ml nicotine. “They contain nicotine in the form of nicotine salt, which is not more dangerous than nicotine, but more addictive,” he said.
Social Democrat Flavia Wasserfallen echoed those concerns, arguing that the flavours and colourful design of disposables appeal to teenagers. She added: “Vapes present health risks, damage the environment and lead to costs for everyone.”
Critics say banning disposables is likely to do more harm than good. By removing an effective tool for quitting smoking, the ban may drive adults back to cigarettes or to unregulated black market products.
Switzerland’s own Federal Council initially opposed the ban, warning it would create “technical barriers to trade.” Right-wing Swiss People’s Party MP Hannes Germann agreed and urged a more pragmatic approach, saying: “Switzerland should not go it alone.”
Narrowly passed
Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider ultimately backed the decision, citing similar bans in France, the UK, and Swiss cantons like Valais and Jura. However, she admitted that alternative proposals, such as increasing taxes or ending incentives, “would not have the same effect.”
In the end, the motion passed narrowly by 19 votes to 11 with centre-right and People’s Party members largely opposing the measure.
In the UK, critics warn that the new disposable ban – which took effect on June 1 – could push many adult ex-smokers back to cigarettes and make vaping less accessible for lower-income groups who rely on the simplicity and affordability of disposables.
In contrast, Sweden has taken a pragmatic, harm reduction-based approach by embracing regulated nicotine alternatives like vaping and snus.
This strategy has helped the country achieve the lowest smoking rates in Europe. It recently became the world’s first officially “ smoke-free” nation, with daily smoking rates below five per cent.
