Discounted Disposable Vapes Selling for Pennies in Bargain Blowout before Upcoming Ban
In the lead-up to this weekend's nationwide ban on single-use e-cigarettes in the UK, disposable vapes are being increasingly sold at rock-bottom prices, costing less than a Cadbury's Freddo bar in some instances. From Sunday, the sale of these e-cigarettes will be illegal under new laws aimed at shielding children and reducing landfill.
However, online sellers are desperate to avoid the £200 fines that will be imposed if they refuse to comply, leading them to discount their stocks heavily. One online platform marketing a "UK Vape Bargain Blast" is offering Flavaah Bar disposable vapes for as little as 29p each, slashing the price from £5. Elf Bars are also available for 49p, down from a former cost of £5. A pack of 20 e-cigarettes is currently on sale for just £10, a dramatic reduction from its previous price of £100.
Kate Pike, a representative from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, noted that these low prices are indicative of the forthcoming black market and the immense challenge of enforcing the new law. She expressed concern about the potential influx of illegal operations and supplies during the transition period. She also emphasized that disposable vapes are addictive and urged against offering them at such low costs.
Campaigners argue that the new law will simply drive the market underground, making regulation and enforcement exceptionally difficult. Ministers have introduced the legislative measure as part of a broader strategy to deter children and teenagers. These younger demographics often favour single-use vapes with fruity flavours, which will also soon be banned.
Additionally, environmental concerns motivated the ban, as a significant amount of plastic and lithium batteries are being discarded daily—an estimated one million vapes are thrown out every day. Retailers can mitigate this issue by offering take-back schemes for used vapes, pods, coils, and batteries, supporting responsible disposal and recycling.
As the ban nears, retailers are adapting by transitioning towards reusable vape products, which will be the only legally available option after the ban. Both brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms are lowing their inventory of disposable vapes to comply, with those continuing to do so after the ban risking fines and other legal repercussions.
- Amid the impending UK ban on single-use e-cigarettes, some online sellers are slashing prices of disposable vapes to as low as 29p each, hoping to avoid fines.
- The sale of these vapes will become illegal from Sunday as part of new laws aimed at protecting children and reducing waste.
- In the lead-up to the ban, vendors are frantically offering deals like a "UK Vape Bargain Blast," with Elf Bars available for 49p, a significant decrease from the previous £5.
- A pack of 20 e-cigarettes is currently being sold for just £10, a massive reduction from its previous price of £100.
- Kate Pike, a representative from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, worries that these low prices could lead to a flourishing black market and the rise of illegal operations.
- Campaigners argue that the ban could drive the market underground, making it harder to enforce regulations and protect both children and the environment.
- Environmental concerns over disposable vapes are also a factor in the ban, as the daily discarding of plastic and lithium batteries contributes to significant environmental pollution.
- Retailers can address this issue by implementing take-back schemes for used vapes, pods, coils, and batteries, promoting responsible disposal and recycling.
