UK government warns of £600 fines ahead of next week’s vape ban

The UK government has warned of possible £600 fines for vape users ahead of a ban of the use of single-use vapes next week.

Disposable vapes are set to be outlawed across all four nations of the UK from Sunday (June 1) in measures the government says are intended to protect children’s health and prevent environmental damage.

It means that shops and businesses will no longer be permitted to sell single-use e-cigarettes, with retailers set to face a £200 fine if they are found to do so. Subsequent occasions could elicit unlimited fines, a criminal record or imprisonment for up to two years.

The government is also cracking down on the disposal of the items, with households now liable to pay a potential fine of £600 if they “breach their waste duty of care” by throwing the vapes into their regular bins.

Taking decisive action.

From 1 June, the sale and supply of single-use vapes will be illegal.

This will stop the flood of litter onto the nation’s streets and and build a more circular economy.

Read more: https://t.co/Woxr1fhJuK pic.twitter.com/Yo7mXsaY7e

— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) May 31, 2025

According to the government’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment guidance, there are strict rules for their disposal: “When vapes are disposed of in household bins, this can lead to fires in bin trucks and at waste management sites, posing a huge risk to workers and the public”.

The government has stated that single-use vapes represent an “inefficient use of critical resources”, with disposable varieties defined as not having the capacity to be recharged or refilled.

The online vape retailer Haypp has said that 82 per cent of users intend to stockpile single-use vapes ahead of the ban, with as many as 28 per cent planning to buy up at least a six-month supply of the items.

The policy, first brought forward by Rishi Sunak’s government in January 2024, is part of a broader initiative under the Tobacco And Vapes Bill, which eventually aims to create a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of tobacco products to people born after 1 January 2009.

A quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds say they have tried vaping, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

The post UK government warns of £600 fines ahead of next week’s vape ban appeared first on NME.