Illegal vapes are on the rise in the UK, with Trading Standards announcing a 59% increase in seizures between 2023 and 2024. This resulted in 1.2 million unregulated vapes being taken off the streets, but this figure could be just the tip of the iceberg. The disposable vapes ban set to come into force on the 1st of June this year is predicted to cause a surge in demand for black market vapes.
Researchers from alternative nicotine product retailer Haypp set out to identify how many UK vape users may be willing to buy vapes on the black market. A survey of over 500 vape users across the UK found that almost a third (32%) admitted they would be willing to purchase an illegal vape.
Markus Lindblad, head of external affairs at Haypp, said: “These figures are quite alarming. It’s an unfortunate reality that the disposable vapes ban later this year will create a new black market for these products, and with almost a third of UK vapers saying they would be willing to buy illegal vapes, this represents a big challenge for enforcement authorities and a risk for consumers.”
Adding to this, Lindblad said: “After June 1st this year, it will become illegal to sell or supply single-use or disposable vapes. Consumers should be careful if they are offered disposable vapes after this date. Any disposable vapes in circulation after this date may not have been regulated by any UK registered standards boards or agencies meaning there is no guarantee that the product is safe, there is no certainty about where it was made, or what’s actually in the vape. Retailers should talk to their customers about the risk illegal vapes pose to their health.”
Based on the survey data, men were much more likely than women to be open to buying on the black market. Twice as many men (38%) as women (19%) said they would consider buying an illegal vape. Older men were also more willing to use the black market, as men aged 35-54 were three times more likely to be willing to buy illegal vapes than those aged 18-34.
For British vapers, the top three advantages of vapes compared with cigarettes or other nicotine products are 1) the fact they are cheaper 2) they feel healthier and 3) they do not affect others. Price is very important to British vapers, this might help explain their willingness to buy black-market vapes which can often be cheaper than those sold through regular channels.
Only 64% of British vapers believed that they could identify an illegal vape, which is a concern given how many illegal vapes may come into circulation once the ban comes into force.
“There are around 5.6 million vapers in the UK at the moment. If almost a third are willing to buy illegal vapes, this could represent a serious consumer health risk. Consumer education in the run-up to the ban will be critical to avoid large numbers of people exposing themselves to potentially dangerous products” concluded Lindblad.
How to spot an illegal vape
For a vape or e-cigarette to be legally put on the market it must comply with a stringent set of rules set out in the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations (TRPR), introduced in 2017. These rules regulate the nicotine strength and the volume of liquid in a vape and ensure all vapes are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before being placed on the market.
Some of the ways you can spot an illegal vape include:
Vape tanks must have a capacity of no more than 2ml
The maximum volume of nicotine-containing vape liquid in a refill container should be 10ml
Look for a nicotine health warning – if the warning label is missing the product is not legal or regulated.
Vapes and their packaging should be child-resistant and tamper-evident
Vape fluid must have a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml or 2%
Certain ingredients are banned such as colourings, caffeine, and taurine
