On 1st June, the United Kingdom will institute a permanent ban on the sale of single-use disposable vapes. If you currently use single-use vapes, the ban will have a major impact on your vaping experience. You have only a few days left to buy disposable vapes legally in the UK, and this guide will help you get up to speed on what’s going on.
The most important thing to know about the disposable vape ban is this:
From 1st June, you will no longer be able to buy disposable vapes in the UK. You will still be allowed to possess and use any vapes that you bought before the ban, but it will be illegal for any retailers to offer them for sale.
What Is Being Banned?
The UK is banning all single-use disposable vapes, which are defined legally as vapes that are not rechargeable and/or not refillable.
To be legal after the ban, a vape must have a rechargeable battery, and it must be refillable. It must also be possible to replace the coil in the device.
Some examples of the types of vapes that will be legal in the UK after the ban include:
- Vape mods
- Vape pens with refillable tanks or replaceable cartridges
- Pod vapes with pre-filled or refillable pods
- E-cigarettes with pre-filled or refillable cartridges
Although disposable vapes are being banned in the UK, pre-filled vape pods and cartridges will still be legal as long as the batteries for those products are rechargeable and reusable.
It’s important to note that the ban affects all disposable vapes – even ones that contain no nicotine. The UK is banning disposable vapes primarily because of the environmental concerns surrounding improper disposal of the devices, which we’ll explain in greater detail shortly. All disposable vapes share those concerns regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not.
The History of the UK Disposable Vape Ban
The banning of disposable vapes has been a major topic within the UK government since at least 2024, when the Conservative Parliament introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill under then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The bill didn’t pass before the 2024 UK general election, which was a win for the Labour party and resulted in the formation of a new government.
The disposable vape ban remained a priority for the new Labour government, however, and it was ultimately passed because it had broad support from both parties.
Why Are Disposable Vapes Being Banned?
The UK is banning disposable vapes primarily out of concern for the potential negative environmental effects that could result from improper disposal of the devices. Although the batteries should be recycled, some people discard disposable vapes in their standard household rubbish. That can potentially cause hazardous chemicals to enter the groundwater supply through landfills. In addition, improperly discarded disposable vapes have caused fires in some waste processing centres.
There is also a belief within the UK government that disposable vapes may appeal to young nonsmokers, whereas refillable vapes are not thought to have youth appeal.
What Can You Do Now?
As this article is being published, the UK disposable vape ban is only a few days away from taking effect. That means you have a short time left to stock up. Vape shops are in the same situation because there will be no grace period for them to sell their remaining stocks after 1st June. They need to make sure that all of their disposable vapes are sold before then, which means that you can find some incredible deals if you hunt around. If you enjoy using disposable vapes, you should buy as many as you can before supplies run out because this is your last chance to do it legally.
If you find disposable vapes in a corner store after the ban begins, we strongly recommend against buying them. The UK regulates legal vaping products to ensure that they’re safe to use. Illegal vapes that enter the market through unknown sources could potentially be dangerous.
Now Is the Time to Make a Long-Term Plan
Although it’s still possible to stock up on disposable vapes for the next few days, your supply won’t last forever. That means you need to manage your usage carefully while you plan what you’re going to do next.
In the long term, you’ll need to switch to a refillable vape. You can continue using the same nicotine strength that you’re using now, and you can probably find an e-liquid matching your preferred flavour as well. Switching to a refillable vape, however, will definitely change your experience. You might want to make your disposable vapes last a bit longer by reducing your nicotine intake now.
Innokin Makes the Best Refillable Vapes for Switching from Disposables
Innokin is well known as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of beginner-friendly vapes, and we have a wide selection of devices that will appeal to you if you’re switching from disposables and want to keep the experience as straightforward as possible. View our vape kits now or read our list of the best refillable vapes on the market today.
Some of our popular options for people who want to switch from disposable vapes to refillable devices include:
- Innokin Trine and Trine SE: The British government hopes that the disposable vape ban will make the UK vaping industry more sustainable and promote responsible battery disposal. We created the Innokin Trine series with those ideals in mind because it’s the first series of pod vapes with batteries that are designed for easy recycling. When a battery stops holding a charge, you can simply pop it out of the device and drop it off at any collection point. You can then install a new battery and get back to vaping. The Innokin Trine has adjustable power and operates at up to 25 watts; the Trine SE is designed to provide a simpler experience.
- Innokin Endura V and Endura V Pro: The Endura range has always been emblematic of our commitment to providing a straightforward and beginner-friendly experience that will make new vapers feel comfortable right away. The Endura V and Endura V Pro both use Innokin’s new VCAP pod system, which is available in three resistance levels to provide a good experience with a wide range of e-liquid types and nicotine strengths. The Endura V configures itself automatically based on the resistance of the installed pod. The Endura V Pro has manually adjustable power and operates at up to 35 watts.
- Innokin CoolFire Z80 Nex: If you enjoy blowing huge clouds or are interested in switching to a lower nicotine strength, it’s time to consider upgrading from disposable vapes to a vape mod. The Innokin CoolFire Z80 Nex has fully adjustable power and operates at up to 80 watts. It uses a removable 18650 battery, which you can easily recycle and replace when it stops holding a charge. The included tank works with the Innokin Z Coil series, allowing you to enjoy coil resistances ranging from 0.3 to 1.6 ohm for an experience that’s easy to customise.
How to Switch from Disposable Vapes to a Refillable Vape
If you want to ensure that the switch from disposable vapes to a refillable vape will be successful, you need to plan for success from the beginning. Here are some tips to help ensure that the switch will go well.
Switching to a Refillable Vape
When you buy your first refillable vape, you’ll want to choose a device with a feature set similar to the disposable vapes you’re using now. If your preferred vape has adjustable power and airflow, you’ll want to buy a refillable vape with those same features. If you tend to buy simpler disposable vapes, on the other hand, you’ll probably want to get a more straightforward refillable vape without any unnecessary features.
- Switching to a refillable vape means that you’ll need to start buying bottled e-liquid. You’ll want to begin with the same nicotine strength you’re using now, which is most likely 20 mg/ml. You’ll probably have the best experience with nicotine salt e-liquid.
- You’ll likely want to buy an e-liquid matching the disposable vape flavour that you usually use. A big part of the fun of using a refillable vape, though, is that bottled e-liquid is available in a much wider range of different flavours. Having a favourite flavour is a great thing, but you should experiment with new flavours as well.
Switching to a Pre-Filled Pod Vape or E-Cigarette
As we mentioned above, vapes with pre-filled pods or cartridges will remain legal in the UK after the disposable vape ban. That’s because a pre-filled pod or cartridge includes a built-in coil, so these devices are rechargeable and have replaceable coils. The Innokin Klypse system has both pre-filled and refillable pods available, giving you an opportunity to try both and see which style you prefer.
Using a vape with pre-filled pods costs a bit more than using one with bottled e-liquid. However, it’s nearly as convenient as using a disposable vape because there’s no need to go through the process of refilling your device or replacing old coils. When a pod is empty, you’ll simply discard and replace it. Each pod includes a new coil, so you’ll always enjoy top-quality flavour.
Get Ready for the Disposable Vape Ban Now
The UK disposable vape ban begins on 1st June, which is just a few days away. That means you need to start planning now. We’ll leave you with a few key takeaways to ensure that the transition goes as smoothly for you as it can.
- Beginning on 1st June, disposable vapes will no longer be available to buy legally in the UK. Many vape shops are selling their remaining stocks at clearance prices, so you should buy in bulk while you still can.
- Consider reducing your daily vaping to make your supply of disposable vapes last as long as possible.
- Eventually, you’ll need to buy a refillable vape. Although refillable vapes are generally a bit more complicated than disposables, the good news is that you’ll save money and will also enjoy a wider selection of flavours. Try to choose a refillable vape with features similar to the disposable vapes you’re currently using.
- Although you should have no trouble finding a bottled e-liquid or pre-filled pod vape with a flavour similar to what you currently use, remember that having a large flavour selection is a big part of what makes refillable vapes so enjoyable. You should experiment with new flavours to keep things fun and interesting.
