Survey reveals public doubt over disposable vape ban enforcement and impact

A new survey has revealed a lack of public confidence in the government’s disposable vapes ban.

The survey by YouGov, commissioned on behalf of vape retailer VPZ, found that 69 per cent of Brits do not believe the ban is being properly enforced by independent retailers.

Only 14 per cent expressed any confidence in enforcement by independent retailers. Confidence in Trading Standards officers is higher, but still mixed, with 39 per cent confident and 41 per cent not confident.

The findings also raise important questions about the ban’s effectiveness in tackling youth vaping and reducing environmental harm.

• 63 per cent of people said they do not believe it will reduce youth access to vaping products.
• 45 per cent said they do not think it will reduce environmental impact, although 43 per cent do view it as effective in this area.

While the public supports the principle of banning single-use vapes, many believe enforcement is weak and that the ban’s broader goals are being missed.

VPZ has called on the government to move beyond headline-grabbing bans and instead implement meaningful reform.

This would include introducing a national retail licensing scheme, strengthen Trading Standards enforcement, and invest in education and sustainable alternatives.

“These findings should serve as a wake-up call to the government,” Jamie Strachan, operations director at VPZ, said.

“The public has spoken, and the message is loud and clear, this ban is not being enforced properly, and its intended outcomes are falling short.

“While the principle behind banning disposable vapes may be supported, the execution has been nothing short of inadequate.

“With 69 per cent of people lacking confidence in enforcement, and with the majority also doubting the ban’s effectiveness on youth access and in reducing environmental harm, the Government must face the reality that its current approach is not working”

“Without a clear enforcement strategy and robust regulation, the ban risks doing more harm than good.

“It creates a dangerous vacuum where illicit sellers thrive, enforcement is inconsistent, and consumers – especially young people – are left exposed to unregulated and potentially unsafe products.

“This is not just about banning a product. It’s about protecting public health, safeguarding our environment, and building a regulated vaping industry that delivers real harm reduction.

“The current path is failing. The time to act is now.”

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