Disposable vape ban ‘will bring in more business’

Ellen Knight

BBC Radio Shropshire

Ryan Davies-Williams says specialist vape shops will see an increase in customers

BBC Ryan pictured looking into the camera and smiling. He's wearing a navy blue polo shirt with 'evapo' written on the left hand side. He's standing in front of a wooden display cabinet with brightly-coloured vape boxes inside. There's a large sign behind his head, it's blue with white writing and reads "Starters". — Ryan Davies-Williams says specialist vape shops will see an increase in customers

A ban on disposable vapes will boost business, claims a specialist shop in Shropshire.

From Sunday, shops will be banned from selling single-use devices or face a minimum fine of £200.

The government hopes the ban will reduce environmental damage caused by the devices – the lithium batteries and circuit boards have been known to cause fires in bin lorries and leak toxic chemicals – and to help cut the number of children and young people vaping.

Ryan Davies-Williams, assistant manager of Evapo in Shrewsbury, said he “truly believes it’s going to bring in a lot more business”.

He explained that reusable devices were “less harmful and create less wastage”.

“They’re the same price, so we’re not going to see any decline in the business,” he said.

To be considered legal to sell, vapes will have to have a rechargeable battery, a replaceable coil, and be refillable. It will not be illegal to own or use a disposable vape.

Mr Ravisekar is waiting to see how the ban will affect his business

Dineshkumar Ravisekar is looking into the camera and smiling. He is wearing a grey fleece with a black hooded coat over the top. He is standing in the doorway of a shop. Over his left shoulder there is a collage of brightly coloured food packaging. — Mr Ravisekar is waiting to see how the ban will affect his business

Dineshkumar Ravisekar works at Shoplatch Food and Wine in Shrewsbury and said the ban “definitely will affect sales”.

He said despite this worry, the ban will have some positive effects, as the “one-time use” means people tend to “throw [vapes] in the road” when they are finished with them.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 5.9% of people aged 16 and over vape every day.

Around 18% of 11 to 17-year-olds – that’s 980,000 children – have tried vaping, according to a 2024 survey by health charity ASH (Action on Smoking and Health).

Nearly a million children have tried vaping, according to a 2024 survey

The lower half of a shop door with pictures of brightly-coloured vapes on it. Just outside the door is a sign that reads in red letting 'Vape - Lost Mary and many more top brands sold here' on a white background. — Nearly a million children have tried vaping, according to a 2024 survey

People in Shrewsbury are largely supportive of the ban, with some calling for even more stringent measures to be introduced.

“I don’t think we need any more landfill,” said one, who added that “people can still buy [rechargeable] vapes, so I don’t see why [the ban] is a problem.”

Another said the new ban was “brilliant” but said he would like to see “all vapes and all smoking” completely banned.

“People should just stop,” he said.

One woman told BBC Radio Shropshire she had taken her nine-year-old daughter to A&E – and the child was asked by medics if she vaped.

“[Vapes] are marketed at younger people; they are brightly coloured and so accessible,” she said.

“I think the ban is a brilliant idea.”

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