Disposable Vapes in Great Britain: Impact and Implications

Since mid-2021, vaping prevalence has been rapidly increasing in Great Britain. This rise has been most pronounced among younger age groups, driven by the popularity of modern disposable vapes such as “Elf Bar”. Concerns about youth vaping and environmental damage have promoted proposals for an outright ban on disposable vapes. However, some argue that a ban would be challenging to enforce, leading to a thriving black market and other unintended consequences. In this talk, Harry will examine the impact that modern disposable vapes have had on smoking, vaping, and inhaled nicotine use in Great Britain — drawing on recent data from the Smoking Toolkit Study. He will examine the potential effects, both good and bad, of a disposable vape ban and other policy options on public health.