Disposable vape use falls sharply during the first year of the ban
One year after the government introduced a ban on disposable vapes, new data shows a dramatic decline in their use among both children and adults. The disposable vapes ban was introduced under single-use plastics legislation and came into force on 1st June 2025. The law was intended to protect the environment by reducing the use of single-use products and to deter use among children.
YouGov survey data, commissioned from Action and Smoking and Health shows that in 2026, just 13% of 11–17-year-olds who vape say they mainly use disposable products, down from 42% in 2025 before the ban, and substantially lower than the peak of 69% recorded in 2023.
Among adults who vape, use of disposable products has also fallen significantly. In 2026, 8% of adults who vape say they mainly use disposables, compared with 24% in 2025 and a peak of 31% in 2023.
The findings suggest the ban has been effective in helping to reduce the popularity and availability of disposable vapes, particularly among young people.
The survey also explored whether those using vapes were reusing their products or if they still disposed of them after a single use. While a concerning 18% of adult vapers reported they rarely or never reuse their vapes, the majority (60%) report reusing products with 46% reporting they reuse products 10 times or more.
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health said:
“The sharp decline in disposable vape use is encouraging and suggests the policy is having an impact in driving people towards reusable products. While some people are clearly still treating products as disposable the law change is also driving people towards regular reuse.
“However, further action is still needed to address the ways in which vapes are marketed to appeal to children. Government must now use the powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Act to restrict the marketing tricks – like packaging and enticing flavour names – that make vapes appealing to children.
“As vapes become further regulated, as they must, it is important that we strike the right balance between preventing youth uptake and supporting adults who smoke to switch to less harmful alternatives. While vaping is not risk-free, it is substantially less harmful than smoking and remains one of the most effective tools for helping people quit smoking.”
There had been concerns that the ban on disposable vapes could lead some adults to return to smoking. While 70% of people who vaped using mainly disposables just ahead of the ban reported that the change in law had no impact on their smoking, 13% reported that it led to an increase in smoking.
Disposable vapes had previously become the dominant product used by young people who vape, driven in part by their low cost, convenience and heavy marketing. Concerns about their environmental impact also contributed to calls for a ban.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- ASH adult survey conducted by YouGov. Total sample size was 13,259 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18/02/2026 - 19/03/2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Sample size of vapers who mainly used disposables just ahead of the ban n = 437
- ASH youth survey conducted by YouGov. Total sample size was 2,926 11-17 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 03/04/2026 - 06/05/2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB youth aged 11-17.