The ban on the sale of disposable vapes may be less than two weeks away, but survey research indicates consumers are stockpiling devices ahead of the new law coming into force.
Some 70% of 510 vapers surveyed by an online vape store said they were planning on stockpiling disposables, up from 25% when the shop ran the same survey in November 2024. This suggests vapers are engaging in “panic-driven stockpiling”, yet elsewhere the research paints a more mixed picture.
Vapers as a demographic seem to remain firm that they will not return to smoking cigarettes, with just 8.1% saying they would consider taking the habit back up post-ban, down from 14% in November.
And acceptance of reusable vapes has increased according to the poll, with 53% now considering the devices, up from 45%. The majority (61%) of those surveyed say reusable vapes are too complex, however, indicating that thinking on this topic may be based on earlier technologies that involved changing coils, topping up liquids, and managing voltage and ohm settings.
Interestingly, while vapers are fond enough of disposable devices to stockpile them, there is wariness about black-market vapes, with just 3.8% considering buying these, down from 6.9% in late 2024.
In terms of consumption, the vast majority of vapers get through one to five devices a week, while 16% use between six and 10. A concerningly high proportion (53.5%) of vapers say they throw used vapes into the bin, while 65% are unaware that recycling pathways are available for the lithium-ion-powered devices.
David Phillips from Vape Superstore, the firm that carried out the research, says the data indicates a shift “from regular dependence to panic-driven stockpiling”, and that vapers were concerned moving away from disposables would mean the loss of “convenience, flavour variety, and simplicity”.
Phillips adds there is an “urgent” need for education so the switchover from disposable to reusable vapes was not an “overwhelming” one.
