Public Lacks Confidence
The British public does not have any confidence in the enforcement of the Government’s disposable vapes ban, according to VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, the UK’s largest vape retailer
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by Dave Cross
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The British public does not have any confidence in the enforcement of the Government’s disposable vapes ban, according to VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, the UK’s largest vape retailer. A YouGov poll, commissioned on VPZ | The Vaping Specialist’s behalf, found that 69% of Brits believe the UK Government’s disposable vape ban is not being properly enforced. Almost 2/3s don’t think it will reduce youth access to disposables and almost half doubt it will reduce impact on the environment.
VPZ | The Vaping Specialist (VPZ), the UK’s largest vape retailer, says it can reveal a lack of public confidence in the Government’s disposable vapes ban.
A YouGov survey, commissioned on behalf of The Vaping Specialist, found:
- 69% of Brits do not believe the ban is being properly enforced by independent retailers
- 63% of people said they do not believe it will reduce youth access to vaping products
- 45% said they do not think it will reduce environmental impact
VPZ says that the findings raise important questions about the ban’s effectiveness in tackling youth vaping and reducing environmental harm.
The company adds that the survey, conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,228 UK adults online, paints a clear picture. 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 is calling on the Government to move beyond headline-grabbing bans and instead implement meaningful reform which would include introducing a national retail licensing scheme, strengthening Trading Standards enforcement, and investment in education and sustainable alternatives.
Jamie Strachan, Operations Director at VPZ | The Vaping Specialist, told Planet of the Vapes: “These findings should serve as a wake-up call to the Government.
“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% 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.”
Key Findings:
- 69% of respondents are not confident that independent retailers are enforcing the ban.
- Only 14% expressed any confidence in enforcement by independent retailers.
- Confidence in Trading Standards officers is higher, but still mixed, with 39% confident and 41% not confident.
- 63% believe it will not be effective in reducing youth vaping.
- 45% are not confident it will reduce environmental damage, although 43% do view it as effective in this area.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,228 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd - 23rd June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
VPZ is the UK’s largest vaping specialist with over 187 stores throughout the country.
The Edinburgh-based retailer and manufacturer says it has already helped hundreds of thousands of smokers in the UK quit since it was established in 2012.
VPZ’s specialist team is NCSCT trained (National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training) and has expert knowledge, engaging with smokers to educate them on the health and financial benefits of switching to vaping.
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Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
