Disposable vapes being banned

[BuzzieLittleBee]

This has been confirmed today - coming into effect in June.

Looking at the bigger picture, this can only be a good thing. The environmental consequences of these are hideous, and they surely encourage a lot of 'casual' vaping.

They are also clearly big business. Newsagents, corner shops etc make a fortune from them (not just from the vapes but from the add can of drink, packet of crisps etc that people pick up when they go in for a vape). And I assume vaping shops also sell a lot of them too.

Will the banning lead to fewer kids vaping, I wonder? I hope so.

I don’t think any corner shop
makes a fortune on anything! You think a few bags of crisps snd drink equals a fortune? However these need to be devices to aid smokers to stop. So in all honesty, I’d prefer them sold via pharmacies. They were introduced as a health aid, not a child accessory that’s harming them, if people need them to stop smoking, go to a pharmacy. Patched etc available there too. Corner shops can still sell the junk food.

This is great news, wow, I am so pleased. I pick up about 5 or 6 a month just chucked into our local hedges as I litter-pick around the local lanes. I can only imagine how many there are hidden or inaccessible. How much poison is being leached into our fields, where our food is grown?

I would ask everyone reading, if you see a discarded vape, please don't ignore it. Pick it up in a tissue and bin it.

I thought they couldn't go in a normal bin due to the batteries?

Why only in June?

It’s one of the few good ideas they have, so why not ban them before that!

Makes sense, it's a lot of waste
I have a refillable one so just buy the coils and liquids and have done for years

I’m really glad to see this is going ahead. I’ve seen so many people - including under 16s- openly vape on public transport using disposable vapes, whereas you would almost never see somebody smoke on a bus or train.

I agree with Tizer, reusable vapes should be sold by pharmacies, and you should need a prescription for the original vaping “device” (which should then make it accessible for those on lower incomes, but mean it’s harder for children to get hold of), even if the liquid to refill is then sold over the counter.

I guess to let businesses adjust?

Are they going to let the private school parents adjust?

I don't know - if schools don't introduce it until September 25 then yes.

@TizerorFizz you're right- I know corner shops aren't gold mines raking in 000s in profit. BUT disposable vapes have been a good revenue stream for them in recent years, and they definitely drive footfall. Profit on crisps and drinks is small for sure, but it all adds up, and it's profit they wouldn't have if it wasn't for the vapes.

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat the article I saw said June to give businesses time to sell through and adjust. Makes sense I guess.

I expect people will just start smoking again. Possibly more environmentally friendly!

I hate disposable vapes because delivery drivers check them out of the window and we have to pick them up when litter picking.

Let’s see, so businesses will have at least nine months and parents and children should be grateful for a tiny respite, if any.

I can clearly see the priorities here.

It only shows where Labour priorities are.

And it’s not with parents and children.

To allow stocks of disposables to be run down.

This will be a minor inconvenience for some makers, for whom the streets have been paved with recoverable, rechargeable, and reusable lithium batteries.

Thank goodness. Loads of us are carrying around cups and bottles and tote bags to avoid using disposable plastic while these things are mounting up in the streets and landfill. They’re disgusting.

Don't chuck them in the bin! That's part of the problem. They cause fires in rubbish lorries and are a big problem in landfill. They need to be disposed of in the same way as batteries (ie - not in normal domestic waste, or bins on the street).

Are they going to let the private school parents adjust?

If you're going to make this comparison (which I think is a slightly silly one because the policies aren't really comparable) then the VAT on school fees was announced in July for January, so 6 months notice with a lot of pre warning that it would happen. This has been announced in October for June, so 8 months notice. Not wildly different.

I actually agree with you that I think it should be brought in before June. But obviously they can't bring it in overnight, it wouldn't be fair on shops that have bought stock thinking they could sell it. But a ban from the new year maybe would he doable.

Blimey. They are doing it aren't they?

Presumably people who run businesses that sell vapes are also parents with children.

Great news. I hope people won’t go back to cigarettes. I think the low cost of the vapes was a huge factor in their popularity. A packet of cigarettes is now about £15 vs £5 for a vape.

I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't know what they were until about 3 years ago. I had to look after my niece and picked up what I thought were highlighter pens from her bedroom floor. I had to ask my kids.

Are they ever going to stop going on about this - its 20% for the wealthiest people, It's not like they demand you kill your first born. Already had 4 months to adjust - as we keep hearing, again and again and again.

Taxing the wealthy and trying to prevent the vulnerable get sick. I'm not sure anyone would be surprised that is where their priorities are.

Also even the Tories haven't bothered challenging this so it will clearly go ahead.

To be honest, I don't believe you should tax education. But there are so many other more pressing things to deal with I can't work up much outrage.

There’s an easy tax on vaping they could also introduce. Would be a good move provided it’s not too punitive. It might lead to a small uptick in smoking though I doubt it.

What I’m really keen for is a massive tax on bottled water. The environmental benefit would be great. And the urban litter improvement!

Good! Seeing children using them makes me feel sick, this ban cannot come soon enough!