Vape sales plunge £5m in first week of disposable ban, Talysis data shows

The UK’s ban on disposable vapes may be just days old, but early figures from convenience retail data specialist Talysis suggest the impact has already been severe — and swift.

According to the latest figures from the firm’s CD:UK (Convenience Data UK) platform, which gathers sales data from over 13,000 stores including 1,600 forecourts, vape sales have plummeted by more than £5 million in the first week of the ban alone.

Sales fell from a typical weekly average of £23 million to just £17.8 million, a sharp drop that underlines the outsized role disposable vapes played in convenience retail up until the 1 June ban came into force.

“It’s early days, but this is a major shift,” said Talysis managing director Ed Roberts. “Retailers need fast, clear insight to respond effectively — and that’s exactly what our data delivers.”

Despite the ban, Talysis reports that more than £1 million worth of disposable vapes were still sold during the first week of June — a signal that some retailers may be flouting the new rules.

However, the firm noted that prices have remained steady, indicating there has been little evidence of widespread panic-selling or discounting in response to the regulatory change.

The data also revealed significant regional disparities in the impact of the ban. Scotland experienced the most dramatic fall, with sales down 36 per cent, while every region across the UK recorded a drop of at least 20 per cent.

While alternative products such as refillable pod systems, small puff kits, and 10+2ml large puff devices have begun to grow in popularity, Talysis said these formats have not yet made up for the sales void left by disposables.

“Our data presents a tough picture of how the ban is impacting sales and how the alternative options are yet to compensate fully and replace disposable use. Whilst it’s early days, a £5 million loss in the first week alone is a major hole to fill,” Roberts said.