After the Vape Ban, Are Students Turning to Riskier Alternatives?

By Harry Moore

In June of this year, single-use (often referred to as disposable) vapes were banned from being bought or sold.

The aim? To cut down on youth vaping and reduce environmental waste. Yet among students at Queen’s and across the UK, nicotine use isn’t disappearing; it’s adapting. And some experts argue that what’s replacing the disposable vape might be just as problematic.

Why were single-use vapes banned in the first place?

The ban came in response to mounting evidence that single-use vapes were fuelling a youth nicotine epidemic. Initially introduced as one of many smoking cessation devices, vaping was marketed as a physiologically safer alternative due to its lack of tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens. However, because of their appealing flavours and colourful packaging, vapes began to attract people who had never smoked before.

A 2024 study published in The Lancet found that among 18–24-year-olds in England who vape, 14% had never smoked before [2]. Awareness of vaping as a trend of “one-offness” is of relevance, especially for young people attracted to the product, for example on nights out. The trend of vaping among young people in particular is of utmost concern to health agencies.

The environmental cost was also of concern. In 2023, an estimated five million disposable vapes were being thrown away every week in the UK, and only 17% were properly recycled [3]. The rest ended up in landfill, wasting valuable lithium and cobalt that could otherwise help power electric vehicles and smartphones.

A Change in Name, Not in Habit

So, how have students responded to the ban? At first glance, not much has changed. Companies quickly came to the students’ rescue with alternatives that look and feel identical to their disposable predecessors. Perhaps the most ubiquitous product, the Lost Mary BM600, sells for roughly the same price as the now-banned single-use version (£5.99 recommended retail price) but is technically reusable with a replaceable e-liquid cartridge.

However, this new product is reusable in theory but not in practice, as most shops don’t sell the refill cartridges. This allows users to treat the product exactly as before, discarding it after the e-liquid runs out. Due to these issues, the government still struggles significantly with both addiction and waste.

Vapes out – Zyns in?

Another emerging trend is the rise of nicotine pouches, which in the UK are often erroneously referred to as snus, a different and much more harmful oral pouch containing tobacco. Nicotine pouches don’t involve inhaling heated vapour, so they carry fewer respiratory risks compared to vaping. However, they are not risk-free. Dental problems such as gum recession and irritation are common, along with neurobiological effects of addiction – exacerbated by the fact that a single pouch can contain up to 150 mg of nicotine, around fifteen times more than a cigarette.

These products’ sky-high nicotine content and discreet use make them particularly concerning. Pouches can be used unnoticed in lectures, libraries, or even exams. Any form of nicotine ingestion causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which increases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Perhaps the issue most pertinent is the lack of regulation. There is no currently specific age restriction for the sale of nicotine pouches in the UK, meaning that in theory, even an 11-year-old could buy and use them legally.

The next steps for the government

The single-use vape ban was a bold first step, but there are still limitations. Many products still bend the rules, and a largely unregulated market in oral nicotine continues to grow. The government’s upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill [5] aims to close these loopholes by tightening controls on all nicotine-delivery products.

At present, oral nicotine pouches (which don’t contain tobacco) fall outside the UK’s tobacco and vaping laws. They’re instead covered by general product safety legislation, meaning there is no minimum age of sale, no nicotine strength limit, and no restrictions on packaging, flavouring, or advertising. This regulatory gap has allowed underage users to purchase and use highly addictive products with ease.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is still progressing through Parliament and not yet in force, seeks to change that. If passed, it would bring oral nicotine pouches under the same legal framework as vapes and tobacco. The legislation would introduce an age limit of 18, grant ministers powers to restrict flavours, packaging and advertising, and establish nicotine strength caps to prevent excessively concentrated products from reaching the market. It would also enable the creation of a licensing scheme for retailers, ensuring that only authorised vendors can sell nicotine products.


References

[1] Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). 2024. “Nicotine Pouches and Oral Nicotine Products: Briefing Note.” London: ASH.

[2] The Lancet Public Health. 2024. “Vaping among adults in England who have never regularly smoked: a population-based study, 2016–24.” The Lancet, Oct 2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00183-X/fulltext.

[3] Material Focus. 2023. “Five Million Disposable Vapes Are Thrown Away Each Week.” BBC News, 8 Sept 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66740556.

[4] Department of Health and Social Care (UK Government). 2025. “Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Creating a Smoke-Free UK and Tackling Youth Vaping.” London: HM Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-tobacco-and-vapes-bill-creating-a-smoke-free-uk-and-tackling-youth-vaping.

[5] Hansard (UK Parliament). 2025. “Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Sixth Sitting).” House of Commons Debates, January 14, 2025. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-01-14/debates/0a764a5b-ee41-4588-b339-762b465316b5/TobaccoAndVapesBill(SixthSitting).

[6] House of Lords Library. 2025. “Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Research Briefing.” London: UK Parliament. https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/lln-2025-0019.