Research shows worrying number of consumers would turn to illegal trade after disposable ban
A NEW consumer survey has revealed an alarming concern that consumers will switch to illicit products following the imminent disposable vape ban.
According to new research conducted by Evapo, one of the UK’s leading vaping retailers, some 61% of current disposable users have said they would consider buying illicit vapes if they were readily available after the ban.
A further 57% of disposable vapers would also consider stockpiling the devices before the ban is introduced on 1 June, suggesting a significant demand will not disappear but only shift it underground – says Evapo.
Additionally, Evapo has signalled a warning that rising vape prices could push consumers back to tobacco smoking. Some 30% of respondents to the survey said that, due to rising prices from taxation, they would return to smoking and 44% said that the increased costs would act as a deterrent for smokers to switch to vaping.
Evapo has also pulled data from other countries that have more strict vaping rules than here in the UK to illustrate how consumers can shift to the illegal trade following on from new restrictions.
This includes in Australia, where heavy restrictions were placed on nicotine vapes in 2021, reports found a huge increase in illicit sales. According to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration report from 2022-23, over 1million non-compliant or counterfeit vape products were seized or surrendered to the authorities during the course of the year.
Similarly in Massachusetts, America task forces and State Police reported an increase in the number of untaxed vaping devices seized after the state introduced a “patchwork ban”.
According to 2025 reports from the Multi-Agency Illegal Tobacco Task Force, large quantities of untaxed devices were seized across Massachusetts with one licensed retailer holding such a large quantity that it was worth $19,900 in excise duties. Following on from the seizure however, the Task Force issued the retailer with a 90-day suspension of the store’s licence to trade the products.
Andrej Kuttruf, chief executive of Evapo, said: “These findings highlights a very real unintended consequence. Whilst the intent behind the disposable vape ban and tax increases are understandable, the reality is that a significant number of consumers are signalling they may turn to unregulated, potentially unsafe products or even return to smoking.
“Supporting responsible adult vaping and maintaining access to safer alternatives is critical if we want to continue reducing smoking in the UK.”
