Survey Shows Disposable Vape Ban May Backfire in the UK—U.S. Shouldn’t Follow Suit

Yorkshire, UK – June 2025 

 

A newly released survey from Yorkshire Cancer Research has sounded the alarm: 18% of disposable vape users in Yorkshire say they plan to return to smoking tobacco when the UK’s upcoming ban on disposables takes effect in June. 

This troubling statistic should raise serious concerns—not just in the UK, but across the Atlantic as well. As policymakers in the United States continue to debate the future of flavored and disposable vapor products, the evidence from Yorkshire offers a cautionary tale: blanket bans can backfire. 

 

🔗 Full report from Yorkshire Cancer Research 

 

🧪 What the Survey Found 

 

The survey, conducted by Yorkshire Cancer Research, asked users of disposable e-cigarettes what they planned to do when the ban takes effect. The results were clear and concerning: 

 

18% said they would go back to smoking tobacco. 

30% were uncertain about what they would do, leaving the door open to relapse. 

Young adults and individuals in lower-income communities—groups more likely to use disposables—are at the greatest risk of switching back to combustible cigarettes. 

 

Instead of encouraging cessation or healthier transitions, this policy could drive people back to the most dangerous form of nicotine delivery: burning tobacco. 

 

⚠️ A Warning for the United States 

 

U.S. lawmakers considering federal or state-level restrictions on disposables should take note: Policies made without realistic alternatives or public education can do more harm than good. 

 

Disposable vapes have become popular not just because of convenience or flavors, but because they are often a first step away from smoking for adults trying to quit. Many former smokers rely on these products as a practical, effective alternative. 

If the U.S. implements similar bans—without providing access to refillable options, nicotine pouches, or other low-risk tools—it may unintentionally drive adults back to cigarettes, undermining public health goals. 

 

🧭 Better Policy, Better Outcomes 

 

There’s a better way forward: 

 

Focus on Product Standards, Not Prohibition: 

Enforce stricter age verification, packaging rules, and quality controls—without banning the entire category. 

 

Educate, Don’t Eliminate: 

Help consumers understand their options and support them in transitioning to alternative nicotine products. 

 

Support Innovation in Nicotine Alternatives: 

Encourage domestic manufacturing, open PMTA pathways, and foster competition in categories like refillable vapes or modern oral pouches. 

 

🚨 Bottom Line 

 

The data out of Yorkshire is a red flag. Nearly 1 in 5 users say they will return to smoking when their vape of choice disappears. For a country that has made major progress reducing smoking rates, that’s a devastating step backward. 

 

The U.S. must learn from this and avoid adopting reactionary policies that could reverse the gains made over the past decade. 

 

Instead of bans, let’s focus on smart regulation—one that protects youth while preserving access to lower-risk tools for adults who smoke.