A vape retailer who supplies stores in Suffolk, says sanctions needed to stop illegal sales
It's as the ban on disposable vapes comes into place today.
Single-use vapes will be banned from sale across Suffolk and the rest of the UK from Sunday (1 June), as part of a government crackdown aimed at tackling youth vaping and environmental waste.
From tomorrow, corner shops, supermarkets and vape retailers will no longer be allowed to sell single-use vapes, with new enforcement powers rolled out to clamp down on rogue sellers.
It means anyone caught selling the devices could be fined £200 on the spot, with repeat offenders facing unlimited fines or even jail time.
The ban comes after a rise in underage vaping and a growing mountain of litter caused by disposable devices , often found dumped in school playgrounds, parks, and town centres.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:
“For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today.
"The Government calls time on these nasty devices.”
Youth Vaping Still Too High
Although new figures suggest the tide may be turning, campaigners say there’s still a long way to go.
Charity Action on Smoking and Health found that the number of 18 to 24-year-old vapers using disposables dropped from 52% in 2024 to 40% in 2025. Among all vapers in Great Britain, usage of disposables fell from 30% to 24% in the same period.
Ministers say the new ban will help bring those numbers down even further.
“Disposables Have Done Their Job”
Matt Crann from Riot Labs, who stocks vapes across Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Saxmundham, told us the ban could help clean up the industry, but says tougher penalties are still needed for those who flout the rules:
“A licensing scheme would self-fund the enforcement and the fines we’re calling for. People selling illegal products to underage people is £10,000. We need real deterrence.”
He also believes the industry is already moving in the right direction:
“Disposable single-use vapes have actually played a huge part in helping millions of people quit. However, now we’re seeing huge volumes of people moving over to refillable devices and closed pod systems.
"Disposables have done their job – they’re not required now.”
But Matt warned that without proper checks, some retailers will still try to bend the rules:
“While we have a lack of enforcement in the industry, there will always be illicit products on the market – and there will always be rogue traders selling those products, as well as selling to underage.”
The ban is part of wider efforts by the Government to reduce smoking and vaping among young people, while also reducing environmental harm from throwaway products.