Can I still buy disposable vapes? Everything you need to know about the UK ban
On the 1st of June 2025, the UK ban on disposable vapes came into effect. This saw an immediate end to disposables being sold on shelves across the country, but what does this mean for vapers? Many people still have questions about the ban, including whether disposable vapes can still be used or purchased in Great Britain.
In this blog, we’ll cover all the important information you need to know about the ban and answer the all-important question, “Can I still buy disposables?”
What are disposable vapes?
A disposable vape is a single-use e-cigarette. These devices are designed for convenience and compact vaping on the go. These vapes are prefilled with e-liquid, and once the liquid or battery runs out, the whole device is discarded.
Disposables have a puff count of 300 to 600 puffs and have no buttons and can be used by inhaling over the mouthpiece. Most disposables contain nicotine and have become extremely popular for their convenience and ease of use.
What does the disposable vape ban cover?
The disposable vape ban that came into effect on June 1st covers the sale and supply of single-use vapes across Great Britain. This ban applies to all countries in the UK, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
This ban includes all devices that are non-refillable or non-rechargeable, regardless of whether they include nicotine or not.
Exceptions to this ban include rechargeable or refillable vapes. These include pod systems, pen-style vapes and mod boxes.
Can you still buy disposable vapes?
After the 1st of June 2025, you cannot legally buy disposable vapes online or in stores anywhere in the UK. Purchasing disposables from UK retailers after this date is illegal and could result in penalties for both the seller and the buyer. Businesses caught breaking these rules can face fines and even imprisonment.
Before the ban came into action, retailers had 6 months to deplete their existing disposable stock so that they wouldn’t have an excess of vapes to dispose of.
It’s important to note that whilst the ban applies to buying disposables, you can still use existing disposable vapes purchased before the ban without any consequences.
Why are disposables now banned?
The UK government made the decision to ban single-use disposables due to the social and environmental ramifications of these devices. Not only does the plastic associated with single-use vapes contribute to pollution, but the batteries inside disposables pose huge fire risks and environmental damage by leaking pollutants like lithium and mercury into our water and soil.
The second contributing factor was the huge increase in popularity of vaping amongst under-18s. Whilst technically illegal to buy under the age of 18, the bright colours, sweet flavours, and cheap price tag made disposables appealing and accessible to younger audiences.
NHS surveys found that a quarter of 11-15 year olds have tried vaping and 9% were regular vapers, indicating a serious national health issue that needed addressing.
What products are impacted by the ban?
Some of the most popular and well-known names in the vaping business have been hit hard by the ban and have had to redesign or remove their famous models from circulation. Iconic brands like Lost Mary have redesigned their famous disposable Lost Mary BM600, whilst their sister company, Elf Bar, has done the same with the 600 model. This means the new versions are now multi-use and are identifiable as reusable through the charging port and refillable pods.
If you see anyone purchasing old disposable Lost Mary 600s or notice models like single use SKE Crystal Bars in stores after the 1st of June, these are unregulated or counterfeit products and should be avoided and reported.
What does the disposable ban mean for vapers?
If you’re a disposable vaper, you can use any e-cigarettes you have left, but once they run out, you will need to switch to a new form of vaping. This means you’ll need to move on to refillable pods, pens or advanced mod systems. You can also try out nicotine pouches if you’re looking to try something new and enjoy tasty flavours in a more discreet way.
What can you use instead of disposables?
The ban doesn’t mean you have to give up vaping, and there are a number of alternatives to disposables that vapers can explore.
Prefilled pod kits
These are devices that come prefilled with e-liquid. These vapes are designed to be used several times as opposed to the standard single-use disposables. With these devices, you either recharge until the flavour runs out or replace the prefilled pods. Popular disposable brands like Lost Mary have introduced prefilled pod kits as an alternative to disposables. They feature the same flavours and iconic taste and compact design, but can be used several times for a more sustainable vaping experience.
Beginner vape kits
Beginner vape kits are a step up from prefilled devices and offer ease of use with a little more flexibility. With these vapes, you can manually add your flavour with a bottle of e-liquid. This process is made straightforward for new users, with no complex buttons, coils or features. You simply squeeze the liquid into a built-in tank or removable pod and fire up your vape with auto draw or a single button. These devices are rechargeable and are designed for long-term use.
Brands like Vaporesso are ideal for beginners and balance powerful performance with simple features.
At first, it might be difficult to find the right vape for you. Considering your personal vaping preferences, budget and lifestyle will help you to decide which disposable alternatives are best.
Can you bring disposable vapes back from other countries?
If you’ve bought a disposable vape on holiday, you might be worried about bringing a banned item back into the UK, but there’s no need to worry. The ban only applies to the distribution and purchasing of disposables in the UK, not the use of these devices. This means that you can technically buy disposables, just not in Britain. As long as any disposables you bring back are for personal use and not for sale, you can safely and legally use them in the UK, and they will be approved by customs.
You can also pack vapes in your carry-on luggage, but it’s important to be aware of vaping laws in other countries if you are making stopovers before you return. Some countries have a complete ban on vapes of any kind, so research is important to ensure you don’t face confiscation or penalties for travelling with e-cigarettes.
Are there any other new vape and tobacco rules being introduced?
Around the same time the vape ban was proposed, the Conservative government also proposed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This legislation was planned to ban the sale of tobacco products to individuals born on or after 1 January 2009. The law had been proposed to help reduce the number of young smokers in the UK and alleviate the pressure of smoking-related illnesses on the NHS.
This bill also proposed new rules on vape packaging and a standardised set of requirements to help reduce the appeal of vapes to teenagers.
The bill was set to come into play in April of 2025. However, as of June 2025, the Labour government has made no plans to move forward with this law, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been shelved.
This means you’re still able to purchase cigarettes and tobacco products if you were born after 2009, and vape companies can continue to manufacture vapes without changing their packaging.
How to discard your disposables after the ban
If you have an excess of disposables that you need to get rid of, then it’s important to do so safely. Single-use vapes should never be thrown in general waste or household recycling bins. This is what ends up causing damage to our environment, as the lithium batteries and other toxic materials end up in landfills.
Despite the ban, you can still find vape recycling points around large retailers and supermarkets such as ALDI and Tesco. These are clearly labelled bins where you can discard your single-use vapes.
You can also head to your local recycling centre, where they should have designated bins for recycling electronics. If you shop for your e-liquids or devices in store, you can also ask them how to dispose of any disposables. By law, any seller that stocks electronics like vapes should also provide a service, either in person or online, to safely return electronics.
How to spot illegal or counterfeit vapes
Other than the obvious fact that they are being sold past the ban date of the 1st of June, there are other ways to spot a fake or illegal product.
When you pick up a vape, the packaging should be an indication of its authenticity. There should be a QR code or unique number on the exterior that can be entered into the brand's website to verify the authenticity. Issues like typos, poor grammar and a lack of compliance warnings are also an indication of counterfeit products.
You should also be aware that any stores selling disposables as “old stock” from the 1st of June are still breaking the law.
How to report counterfeit or illegal vapes
If you were unaware of the ban and have bought a disposable from a UK retailer since the 1st of June, you should report them for illegal activity. To do this, you should inform Trading Standards or your local council. You should also stop using these products immediately, as they could contain unregulated ingredients or chemicals.
Whilst it might seem unnecessary or inconvenient to report fake or illegal vapes, doing so will help to protect yourself and others from the dangers of unauthorised products and the health risks they can pose.
Final thoughts on the disposal vape ban
The disposable ban has undeniably transformed the vaping industry, and the positive implications on the environment and public health can only be observed in the months and years to come. Many vapers worried the ban would impact their vaping experience, but brands have carefully tailored new and existing products to appeal to the previous disposable market.
Ex-smokers can still enjoy easy-to-use devices and customised vaping with a wide range of products available.