Should Vapes Be Banned?
Over the last decade, there has been a rapid rise in the number of adults in England who vape. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, this growth has become even more dramatic. Almost 10% of the UK’s population now vapes - that’s around a staggering 5 million people. What’s even more worrying is that more young people are taking up vaping, with numbers increasing by around 50% each year. The social, economic, and health effects of vaping are now becoming serious problems that need urgent attention and government action.
Vaping is often compared to hookah, or smoking tobacco through a pipe, which has been around for centuries in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. However, vapes are the modern version - electronic devices that heat a liquid (called vape juice or e-liquid) to create a flavoured aerosol that is then inhaled. The modern e-cigarette is generally credited to Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, who developed a prototype in the early 2000s after his father and commercial products first appeared in China before spreading globally.
Vapes carry many health risks, especially to the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Most vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Short-term effects reported include throat and mouth irritation, cough, increased heart rate, or blood pressure changes. Some laboratory studies have found cellular damage or biomarkers associated with cancer risk after e-cigarette exposure; long-term evidence on cancer and many chronic diseases is still limited and uncertain - which is something to be cautious of.
Thousands of people who have quit smoking now use vaping as an alternative. The NHS has launched the “Swap to Stop” programme, encouraging smokers to switch to vaping as a less harmful alternative. But does this send the correct message? Critics worry that public messages may reduce perceived harm among non-smokers and young people - especially from trusted organisations like the NHS.
Vaping also has a huge economic footprint. In 2021, the vaping industry added £2.8 billion to the UK economy, including £310 million in tax revenue. These figures have only grown since then. The government has tried to reduce vaping by adding taxes, but the sales keep increasing despite higher prices. An extra tax is set to be phased in - but will this have a significant impact considering the addictive appeal of the good?
Vapes also have a detrimental impact on the environment. Every year, up to 40 tonnes of lithium used in vape batteries end up as litter on streets and in waterways. Government analysis showed that only 17% of people who vape dispose of their vapes properly. These figures helped motivate the ban of all disposable vapes in June 2025. However, reusable vapes are still allowed, which means the addiction will continue.
Just like smoking, vaping exposes people nearby to second-hand aerosol, sometimes called passive vaping. Although this exposure is significantly less harmful than second-hand cigarette smoke, it is not risk-free, as the vapour can contain nicotine and other chemicals. Sweet-smelling vape flavours may seem harmless, but their appeal can disguise the fact that vapes are intended for adult smokers trying to quit - not for children.
Vape advertising and packaging have often been bright and youth-oriented, which has contributed to vaping becoming popular among some teenagers. Despite government moves to restrict disposable vapes and tighten advertising and packaging rules, many young people still see vaping as “cool,” which can influence younger children to experiment.
Health risks, nicotine addiction and environmental harms are among the reasons some argue the UK should consider stricter measures on vaping. While banning disposable vapes is a significant step aimed at reducing child appeal and cutting waste, experts emphasise that further action should balance protecting young people with supporting adults who use vapes to quit smoking.