In some ways, the ban has achieved its aims, as the percentage of those aged 16-24 using disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63% to 35%. However, researchers believe that this drop is a result of switching to refillable and rechargeable vapes in anticipation of the ban, instead of giving it up.
The proposed ban may therefore only have a limited impact on vaping rates as it found that vaping increase stalled between January 2024 and 2025, after several years of a steady incline. Before the ban, between January 2022 and 2024, vaping amongst those 16 and over increased from 8.9% to 13.5%. In young adults, the 16-24 age bracket, this increased more sharply from 17% to 26.5%.
In anticipation of the ban, more of these users have switched, with production companies also coming out with rechargeable versions of their best sellers. They are very similar in design, colours, flavour and even in price.
GP Dr Helen Wall has said the NHS advice is 'very clear' that vaping should only be used as a means to stop or help quit smoking. Instead, the idea that vaping is ‘less harmful’ than smoking has caused a lot more young people to turn to this instead.
'Our young people are becoming quite addicted. It’s affecting their concentration, they’re becoming agitated, their capacity to learn is affected, their developing brain can be affected.'