Single use vapes still being sold in Buckinghamshire one year after it was banned
New data shows disposable vape use has fallen sharply
Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards says its still dealing with shops selling illegal single use vapes - one year since they were banned.
It comes as new data shows disposable vape use has fallen sharply among both children and adults in the first year since the UK government banned the products, according to new survey data released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
The ban on disposable vapes came into force on June 1, 2025, under single-use plastics legislation aimed at reducing environmental waste and curbing youth vaping.
Ian Smith, an Officer from Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards said “It's not uncommon for us to come across single use vapes still in the shops or indeed still being displayed for sale.
“There have been a number of instances that we've discovered where we have seized, taken away, and in some instances where there's not reasonable excuse or we know they have been in possession for sale, we have issued penalty notices.”
He added: “Undoubtedly there will be certain stuff that's smuggled there. There always is around the edges, but in relation to the quantities, we're not seeing huge quantities of single use vapes coming in.
“Not that I'm aware of anyway, but there does seem to be remnants of old stock still out there that are being pushed through.”
The new data
New YouGov data commissioned by ASH found that just 13% of 11 to 17-year-olds who vape now mainly use disposable products, compared with 42% before the ban in 2025. Usage had previously peaked at 69% in 2023.
Among adults who vape, reliance on disposable products also dropped significantly. In 2026, only 8% of adult vapers said disposables were their main product, down from 24% in 2025 and 31% in 2023.
ASH said the figures suggest the legislation has been effective in reducing both the popularity and availability of disposable vapes, particularly among young people.
The survey also examined whether vapers were reusing devices rather than discarding them after a single use. While 18% of adult vapers admitted they rarely or never reused their products, the majority reported regular reuse. Around 60% said they reused their devices, with 46% saying they reused them 10 times or more.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of ASH, said the decline in disposable vape use was an encouraging sign that the policy was changing consumer behaviour.
“The sharp decline in disposable vape use is encouraging and suggests the policy is having an impact in driving people towards reusable products,” she said.
“While some people are clearly still treating products as disposable, the law change is also driving people towards regular reuse.”