Government ban in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland starts June 1

The government is issuing a reminder across the UK to those who regularly buy or sell vapes about an upcoming ban. In just 11 days, from June 1, 2025, it will become illegal for businesses to sell, supply, offer to sell or supply, or possess for sale or supply all single-use or 'disposable' vapes.

From June 1, the sale of single-use vapes will be outlawed in England, , Wales, and Northern Ireland. This ban includes all disposable vapes, regardless of nicotine content, although reusable vapes can still be sold.

Single-use vapes are not only wasteful but often end up as litter, damaging the environment and communities. They contribute to pollution and can present safety risks during waste disposal. This new ban aims to lessen the adverse impact of disposable vapes to protect the environment, encourage sustainability and discourage young smoking.

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When single-use vapes are thrown away in black bins, they end up in landfills or are incinerated, leading to the loss of valuable resources. They pose a fire risk, too, as they threaten the safety of waste management workers, firefighters, and the general public, reports . To tackle this issue, the government will ban the sale and distribution of single-use vapes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland starting June 1.

The government is also planning to limit access to vaping for children, as figures show a rising trend among 11 to 15 year olds, likely due to the attractive packaging. data from 2024 showed that nearly a quarter of children in this age group had tried vaping, with almost 10% being regular users.

In the UK, around 5.6 million adults, , are currently using vapes. This marks the highest vaping rate ever seen in Great Britain.

What exactly is a single-use vape?

A single-use disposable vape is designed for one-time use only. To be considered reusable, a vape must be both rechargeable and refillable. If a vape has a battery that can't be recharged or a coil that's hard to replace or buy separately, it's not classified as rechargeable.

The coil, which is heated by the battery, creates the vapour from the e-liquid. With a reusable vape, you might have the option to easily remove and replace the coil or change the pod or cartridge that contains it.

A vape is considered non-refillable if it uses a single-use container, like a pre-filled pod, that isn't available for separate purchase or replacement. This container could be a capsule, cartridge, pod, tank, or any other type designed to hold the vaping liquid for use in the vape.

It won't be illegal to possess disposable vapes after June 1, as long as you don't intend to sell or distribute them. After the ban takes effect, any remaining disposable vapes must be recycled.

Customers are being urged to return any disposable vapes or parts to the shops where they were bought, as these outlets are obliged to dispose of them responsibly. The government recommends that they should only be binned in designated vape bins for proper recycling.

In addition to the restrictions already mentioned on vaping devices, reusable vapes will also have to meet wider regulatory requirements. Vapes on sale must comply with the relevant regulations, including:

What happens to people who continue to sell and supply them?

Various government bodies, such as the Border Force, have the power to inspect shops for illegal vapes and can report those breaking the rules. The penalties vary slightly depending on your location within the UK. Here's a rundown of how it will be enforced in each region.

In England

A statement on Gov.uk reads: "Local authority Trading Standards will lead on enforcing the ban within their area. If you suspect that someone is supplying single-use vapes, or if you have questions about adhering to the rules of the ban or how it'll be enforced, contact your local Trading Standards service.

"In the first instance, enforcement authorities will apply civil sanctions (non-criminal penalties) such as a stop notice, compliance notice and fine of £200. Trading Standards will be able to seize any single-use vapes they find.

"If you continue to supply, offer to supply or have in your possession to supply single-use vapes, you may be charged with an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both. You may also receive an additional cost recovery notice, where you must pay the costs incurred by Trading Standards while investigating your offence. This includes investigative, administrative and legal costs."

In Wales

Gov.uk explains: "Local authorities in Wales will lead on enforcing the ban. If you suspect that someone is supplying single-use vapes, or if you have questions about following the rules of the ban or how it'll be enforced, contact your local authority or Trading Standards service."

Enforcement authorities may apply civil sanctions such as:

It adds: "Alternatively, you could be tried in a Magistrates' or Crown Court. If you're found guilty in a Magistrates' Court of supplying, offering to supply or having in your possession to supply single-use vapes, or fail to follow a stop notice, you may face an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of no more than six months, or both.

"If you're found guilty on conviction of one of these offences in a Crown Court, you may face up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. If you're found guilty in a Magistrates' Court of obstructing an enforcement officer or failing to follow their requests, you could face an unlimited fine."

In Scotland

In Scotland, the enforcement of the single-use vape ban will be in the hands of local authorities. According to Gov.uk: "They'll report criminal cases to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, who are responsible for prosecuting offences under the regulations. If you suspect that someone is supplying single-use vapes, or if you have questions about following the rules of the ban or how it'll be enforced, contact your local authority or Trading Standards service."

The statement adds: "In the first instance, enforcement officers will have the option to issue a fixed penalty notice as an alternative to criminal prosecution. In the case of a first offence, the fixed penalty amount is £200, which if paid within 14 days would be discounted to £150."

For those found guilty of offences related to single-use vapes in Scotland, the penalties are steep.

The statement adds: "If you fail to comply with an enforcement requirement without a reasonable excuse, you'll be subject on summary conviction to a fine of up to level five (currently, £5,000) on the standard scale. If you fail to provide your identification details or give false or inaccurate identification details to an enforcement officer who wishes to give you a fixed penalty notice, you'll be subject on summary conviction to a fine of up to level 3 (currently, £1,000) on the standard scale."

In Northern Ireland

Gov.uk says: "The enforcement mechanism in Northern Ireland will be different from that in other parts of the UK. There are no civil sanctions for this offence, and the following penalties will apply.

"If you're found guilty of supplying, offering to supply or having in your possession to supply single-use vapes, you may receive a fine of up to £5,000 on summary conviction in a Magistrates' Court. On further conviction of this offence in a Crown Court, you may face a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine, or both. If you fail to provide information that an enforcement body asks for, you may receive a fine on summary conviction of up to £5,000 in a Magistrates' Court."

Vape recycling

Vapes, whether they are meant for a single use or are reusable, fall under the classification of electrical items, thereby coming under the ambit of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Vape sellers, who are referred to as 'distributors' within these regulations, are mandated to offer customers a 'take back' service, where they can hand in vapes and related components like used pods, coils, or batteries for the purpose of recycling.

This obligation is extended to encompass any single-use vapes that are returned subsequent to the sales ban that comes into effect starting June 1. Sellers could face consequences from the Office for Product Safety and Standards if they lack appropriate means for the safe recycling of vapes and related parts.

Storing vapes in an unsafe manner or disposing of them improperly puts you at risk of creating a fire hazard. Disposing of vapes should be executed solely in designated vape bins, which ought to be collected regularly for recycling.

For more information on the ban, refer to DEFRA's guidance on single-use vapes.