Disposable vape ban may push some young adults toward cigarettes

The disposable vapes ban in the UK could lead to young adults switching to alternative products, including cigarettes, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. 

In response to rising concerns about youth vaping, the UK Government introduced a ban on disposable vapes last year (from 1 June 2025). While the ban was intended to curb underage use, its possible impact on around the 2.5 million adults in the UK who rely on disposable vapes is unclear.

The new qualitative research, published in PLOS Global Public Health today [11 March], sheds light on how young adults anticipated the ban might affect them. It is thought to be the first study to explore how people who used disposable vapes viewed the UK ban and how they expected to respond.

Researchers interviewed 22 regular disposable vape users aged 18–30, including people who had never-smoked, used to smoke, and dual-used vapes and cigarettes. Through online semi‑structured interviews, participants reflected on their vaping and smoking behaviours, how they expected to adapt post‑ban, and what wider effects they anticipated.

Key findings from the study include:

• Strong support for the ban
  Many participants expressed approval, linking the policy to the sharp rise in youth vaping.
• Planned shift to reusable devices
  A large proportion reported they would move to reusable or rechargeable vapes once disposables are no longer available.
• Risk of increased smoking
  Some dual-users, and a smaller number of never-regular smokers and one ex-smoker, said they might return to, or increase, cigarette smoking instead of switching to reusable vaping products.
• Mixed views on illegal market effects
  Several participants believed the ban would help reduce illegal sales, while others feared it could expand the illicit market for disposable vapes.

The study suggests that while the ban might achieve its intended benefits, particularly in reducing use among younger people, it could also lead to unintended consequences for young adult users. These include potential increases in cigarette smoking among some individuals.

Dr Jasmine Khouja, a researcher on the project while at the University of Bristol, who is now at the University of Bath, and one of the co-authors, said: "The disposable vape ban did not aim to encourage the use of cigarettes, other nicotine products, or illicit markets, yet some young adults considered these options in anticipation of the ban in June 2025.

"Our findings could help guide future research on the impacts of the disposable vape ban and inform efforts to reduce unintended consequences of the ban."

Our study offers an important insight into how banning disposable vapes in the UK could affect young adult users. While many participants indicated they would switch to alternative vaping products, some said they might instead turn to cigarettes."

Richie Carr, one of the study's researchers and corresponding author

The young adult sample provided a rich insight, but its makeup, mainly white females aged 18–22, with about half from the University of Bristol, limits how far the findings can be applied to other genders, ethnicities, and older adults.

The researchers suggest future research should explore how the ban affects a wider range of age groups using a more diverse participant group. Research should also objectively measure the impact of the implemented ban on behavioral changes such as smoking initiation, smoking frequency, use of other nicotine products, and illicit product use.

They also emphasize the need to identify and address potential mitigating factors to reduce unintended harms.