Still Using Your Last Disposable Vapes? Time To Move On

The government appears to be getting something of a reputation for U-turns at the moment on every subject, from public enquiries to winter fuel allowances for pensioners. But that is no reason to expect the same thing to happen with disposable vapes.

To judge by some of the early data after the single-use vape ban came into place on June 1st, there is much to be gloomy about. But that doesn’t mean those who have relied on these devices instead of refillables shouldn’t adjust.

On this issue, we may expect the government to stick to its guns, because part of the motivation was to curb underage vaping and that’s a group of people who, among other things, cannot vote. Besides that, it will take time to see how things work out. Early data has indicated how things have gone so far, not what will occur in the longer run.

The Early Impact Of The Ban

Talking Retail has reported that convenience stores lost over £5 million in vape sales in the first week after the ban came in, according to an analysis from data firm Talysis.

However, this may be due in part to some people stocking up on whatever disposable vapes they could get their hands on before the end of May. Those who have may not be well stocked for the time being, so it’s small wonder they weren’t paying a visit to get their first refills in the first few days of this month.

At the same time, other findings in the study showed some different responses to the ban by retailers and consumers alike. One of these was that around £1 million of illegal disposable vape sales took place, although the level of these varied markedly by region, which may have something to do with variations in how firmly such retailers expect enforcement to be.

We would never advocate being involved in buying vapes illegally, not least because as left-over disposable stock runs out, those determined to carry on providing illicit goods may be increasingly doing so from organised criminals, who already supplied unlicensed (and sometimes unsafe) products that already broke the law before June 1st.

Time To Change

Of course, you can still use any disposable vapes you may have bought in our clearance sale before the end of May, but now really is the best time to start adjusting to using vape kits. You can start by checking out our product range today.

The Talysis study did show that there are signs of at least some people starting to buy such kits, but there is much catching up to do. It stated: “As the convenience sector reels from the loss of sales in disposable vaping, the alternatives have yet to make up the shortfall in a significant way.”

However, it noted, the number of vaping pods, which provided refills for reusable kits, did continue to increase, up 21 per cent in a week, although it added that kit sales were still outpacing pods.  “As consumers begin to re-use their new kits, it’s likely that this will change,” it noted.

That does suggest that while some people are reluctant to adapt, taking under-the-counter opportunities or just relying on their piled-up stock of disposables, the situation might soon change.

Indeed, the simple reality of the ban means that, for all the concerns many reasonably have - the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has been very vocal about the risks of the law change leading to an expanded black market and former smokers reverting to cigarettes - those who want to keep vaping can easily to adjust to using kits.

For this reason, the message needs to be repeated loud and clear: If you have been relying on disposable vapes and are now clinging on to your dwindling pre-June supplies, there is no need to seek illicit products (which may be unsafe as well as illegal), nor revert to smoking.

It’s Not Rocket Science

Instead, you will find that using vape kits really isn’t that difficult. Fears of them running out of charge are no more relevant than they would be for a mobile phone, which has now become like an extra limb for most people.

Even as it warned of the dangers of unintended consequences when the ban came in, the UKVIA was keen to get this very message across.

It advised those thinking of reverting to smoking to “take advice and consider the new refillable and pre-filled pod vapes that more manufacturers are bringing to the market with an emphasis on ease of use,” noting that this will provide a vaping experience that  “goes a long way to matching the convenience of disposables.”

Quite right too. And if you want to find out more, you have come to the right place.