Warwick students overwhelmingly support Government’s disposable vape ban

The Government’s announcement of a disposable vape ban in England and Wales has been welcomed by Warwick students, with 9 in 10 surveyed supporting the move.

The ban, which will be implemented from next June, is intended to protect the public’s health, especially the health of young children. The move also aims to prevent environmental damage caused by the disposal of vapes.

Figures show that the number of people using vapes in England grew by 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9% of the British public now buying and using vape products.

In a survey carried out by The Boar, 89% of respondents supported the ban, viewing the move as beneficial

Although it is illegal to sell vape products to under-18s, a quarter of 11-15-year-olds reportedly used vape products last year, which has been described as “deeply worrying” by Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne.

In a survey carried out by The Boar, 89% of respondents supported the ban, viewing the move as beneficial, particularly for its environmental impact.

One student who supported the ban said that disposable vapes are “so environmentally harmful, and people can still invest in a reusable vape”. Another respondent added that they would support the ban “in a heartbeat” for “environmental reasons”.

Single-use vapes pose a range of environmental challenges, as they are difficult to recycle and frequently end up in landfills. Harmful substances released by vape batteries, such as battery acid, lithium, and mercury, can often end up damaging the environment.

The affordability of disposable vapes has also led to “an epidemic of nicotine addiction”

Hundreds of fires are caused each year at landfill sites due to vape batteries being thrown into household waste bins. The University made steps to combat this problem earlier this year by installing disposable vape bins on campus.

The affordability of disposable vapes, priced at around £5 each, has also led to “an epidemic of nicotine addiction”, according to one paediatric consultant. Dr Claire Hogg told the BBC that children are suffering from “disrupted sleep, disrupted concentration, and really struggling with problems with addiction” as a result of vaping.

Concerns over the ban have been raised, however, with experts warning against the already-growing ‘black market’ for disposable vapes.

John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), warned that the ban could “fuel” illegal sales, stressing that authorities are already struggling to manage illicit vape markets.

The UKVIA has urged the Government to consider a licensing system as an alternative to the ban, with strict age verification protocols in place for selected vape retailers and distributors.

While the ban follows recent moves in Ireland and Belgium to prohibit disposable vapes, critics of the move have voiced their concerns, with one student telling The Boar: “The Government has no right to determine what people choose to do with their own bodies.”