Nearly two thirds (61 per cent) of disposable vape users would consider buying illegal products if readily available after the UK ban, a new survey reveals.
Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK from June 1 under environmental legislation. Further restrictions such as a ban on e-liquid flavours are likely to follow under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords.
However, a new poll by online vape retailer Evapo suggests the legislation could have unintended consequences – pushing adult vapers back to smoking and discouraging smokers from switching to safer alternatives.
Two thirds (67 per cent) of disposable vape users said the products had helped them stop smoking entirely. The overwhelming majority (93 per cent) said vaping in general had helped them quit the deadly habit, raising concerns over the wider implications of tighter rules.
Demand could shift underground
A further 57 per cent per cent said they would consider stockpiling disposable vapes before the ban, suggesting demand for the products will not disappear and may instead shift underground.
Just under a third (30 per cent) said that higher vape prices due to tax hikes being introduced next year could drive them to return to more dangerous smoking. And 44 per cent said they expect increased vape costs will push many vapers back to smoking and deter smokers from switching.
“These findings highlight a very real unintended consequence,” said Andrej Kuttruf, CEO of Evapo. “Whilst the intent behind the disposable vape ban and tax increases are understandable, the reality is that a significant number of consumers are signalling they may turn to unregulated, potentially unsafe products or even return to smoking.”
Australia, where nicotine vapes are banned outside of pharmacies, has experienced a sharp surge in illicit sales, with the devices easily accessible online and in local shops. In the U.S. and Canada, patchwork bans in some states or regions have led to higher sales of illegal and counterfeit vapes. Unregulated vapes are potentially dangerous as they have not been made to comply with industry safety standards.
‘Supporting responsible adult vaping is critical’
With vaping set to become 60 to 75 per cent pricier from October 2026 due to new e-liquid taxes, Evapo warns that without complementary efforts such as education and safer, accessible alternatives, the UK could face a rising underground market and a resurgence in smoking rates.
“Supporting responsible adult vaping and maintaining access to safer alternatives is critical if we want to continue reducing smoking in the UK,” Andrej Kuttruf said.
The latest poll comes after a recent report found the upcoming ban on disposable vapes may have only a “limited impact” on the number of people vaping.
The study by University College London revealed there has been a “shift away” from single-use devices ahead of the ban. However, it says more people are simply opting for refillable vapes.
The report, funded by Cancer Research UK, also suggests the rapid rise in overall vape use seen in Britain in recent years has already “stalled.” It warns that “stricter policy options” under review in the controversial Tobacco and Vapes Bill could have unintended consequences by stopping smokers from using vapes to quit the far more harmful habit. Smoking kills around eight million people globally per year, including around 1.3 million from secondhand smoke exposure. Vapes, which do not cause any tobacco-related illnesses, are proven to be one of the most effective tools for helping smokers quit.
