There has been a heated debate in the UK Parliament about banning single-use vapes. Conservative MPS fear underage smoking could be bucking the trend. Other lawmakers argued that a ban would deter single-use vape customers from smoking and convert them to reusable vapes or other non-vape brands.
According to The Independent on November 14, the British Parliament held a heated debate on banning disposable vapes.
Kerry Creagh, Labour MP (Ms. Creagh) in the House of Commons, said that after the ban is implemented, most people who use single-use vapes will “stop smoking and switch to reusable vapes or other non-vape brands”.
During the debate on the ban, Conservative MP Sir Christopher Jazz pointed out that:
- “In my opinion, if children want to decide between vapes and smoking, it is better to choose vapes.”
He worries that the rules could lead to more kids choosing to go back to smoking, just as they used to smoke behind bike sheds.
Lee Dee Liberal Democrat MP (Lee Dillon) waded into the debate to say he disagreed with Sir Christopher on the link between banning single-use vapes and increasing underage smoking.
Congressman Newbury spoke about his experience with vapes: “I’m a vape user. When my wife was pregnant with their first child, I used vapes to quit smoking.”
- “I’ve made my own vape body before, so I know what’s in it, and I’ve used disposable vapes. But now I use a reusable vape. Disposable vapes cost about 6.99 yuan, while my reusable vapes cost about 35 yuan a month.”
- “So for me, using a reusable vape is cheaper than using a single-use vape, and I can still get the same flavor in a reusable vape as a single-use vape.”
Sir Christopher expressed concern that 29% of current vape users were likely to smoke again, while the minister dismissed the claim as “incorrect”.
Ms Creagh, director of the research, said:
- “Sir Christopher’s reference to 29% of users returning to smoking after the ban was implemented is incorrect. Impact assessments indicate that most single-use vape customers have either stopped smoking, converted to reusable vapes, or used alternatives such as nicotine patches and bubble gum.”
The Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes)(England) Regulations were approved by the House of Commons in 2024.
