Disposable vape ban in Wales to start in 2025

The Welsh government has confirmed the sale of disposable vapes will be banned in Wales from June next year

Selling disposable vapes will be banned in Wales from June 2025, it has been announced.

The Welsh government has confirmed it will be in line with England after the UK government announced the same date for a ban with Scotland and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit.

Chris Mcginley, a 35-year-old in Cardiff who had quit cigarettes for years before vaping said: "Disposable vapes are such an easy way in for people, I can't get off them".

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca Davies gave confirmation of the ban in a statement on Tuesday, saying the environmental and social impacts of single-use vapes were a "key priority".

When people in Cardiff were asked about the disposable vape ban they agreed that it was a good thing.

Mr Mcginley had quit smoking for ten years before starting vaping two years ago.

"I have really struggled to get off of nicotine," he said.

"It is not something I am really proud of doing, I have kids and I don't want to see them do it.

"I think lowering that entry barrier is a good thing."

The Welsh government had previously called for a ban on disposable vapes, but has now confirmed the date it will come into effect.

Mr Irranca Davies said the new regulations would "prohibit the supply of single-use vapes in Wales" and was another step in "tackling litter and plastic pollution which blight our environment".

He added: "It will reduce the amount of waste we generate, protecting our communities, wildlife and ecosystems for future generations to enjoy".

The banning of disposable vapes was first announced in January by the previous UK government under Rishi Sunak, but it was unclear whether it would carry over after Labour's general election victory.

Henry Hall, 18, recalled an experience with illegal disposable vapes with his friend.

"We used to stand in the corridors in year 11, and a guy in year seven tried to sell us vapes, which is really emblematic of where the country has gone, he would of been 11," he said.

There are concerns that a ban could fuel an already growing black market of illegal vapes which can have higher nicotine content.

Earlier this year, Swansea council said it had seized more than 140,000 illegal vapes in the span of a few months.