This year is a very special World Vape Day because 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of e-cigarettes arriving on these shores. In time, even vaping’s staunchest critics will be forced to admit that vapes are one of the 21st century’s most consequential health interventions.
For now, around 80,000 UK citizens die from smoking-related deaths each year. It’s crazy to think that number would be much higher if vapes weren’t around. NHS waiting lists and beds would somehow be even longer than they are now.
When viewed in this light, Hon Lik’s invention was a gift to the British people and our government. Some cabinets have shown gratitude and support for vaping. Yet, in recent years, the government has taken these gains for granted and created a hostile environment for both vapers and related businesses.
Here are five ways the UK government has tried to get in the way of this citizen-led, 21st-century miracle.
The UK’s adoption of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) still stings today. Imposing limits on nicotine strengths to 20mg/ml was classic overreach, but having to constantly refill a paltry 2ml tank is a daily grim reminder of what we all lost by following Europe.
Mandatory product testing and notification fees as part of TPD also placed a disproportionate burden on smaller businesses, limiting their ability to compete in or serve niche markets. Although, on balance, if that red tape keeps us safe, it’s hard to fully resent that rule in the same way as the 2ml limit tanks.
The Stopping the Start plan was ostensibly about tackling UK smoking prevalence. However, it framed vaping alongside smoking in public health campaigns, further confusing the public about the relative harms of each product.
The most worrying part was that it proposed granting ministers broad powers to restrict flavours and packaging without parliamentary oversight. For many companies that were working on safer nicotine delivery systems and youth-deterrent technologies like biometric age verification, this created an unacceptable level of unpredictability.
For vapers, it was a sign that the Sunak government didn’t know what they were doing and were taking advice from the wrong people.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill put flavours under immense threat. It granted the Secretary of State broad new powers to restrict or ban vape flavours and ingredients in the future, despite the fact that they are instrumental for smokers to transition to vapes and to keep vapers from returning to cigarettes.
What’s more, restricting point-of-sale ads makes vapes less visible, hindering smokers’ awareness of healthier products.
The government took a reckless gamble with the lives of its citizens by banning disposable vapes. Again, it’s an example of total short-sightedness. The sickest part is that the government had done a risk analysis that told them this policy would drive vapers back to cigarettes or into unregulated markets.
The rules are designed to protect individuals under 18 and the environment. However, most kids buy from social media or friends, while the pollution created by vapes is negligible.
Of course, there are other victims of the disposable vape ban. British vape businesses will take a hit from reduced revenues and unsold stock loss. It’s just another example of how this Labour government makes it very hard for the little guy to run a business in the UK.
It hasn’t happened yet, but it’s coming. The £2.20/10ml price hike will make the cost of vaping much higher during a cost-of-living crisis. Alongside better health outcomes, one of the most compelling arguments for vaping was the cost savings. Per ASH, that 60% cost advantage over smoking will become a thing of the past.
Making vaping unaffordable for many will be a huge boost to the black market. The speculative extra revenues won’t materialise for the government. More worryingly, if people drift back to smoking because they’ve been priced out of vaping, it’s only a matter of time before the NHS is placed under more strain.
Vaping has been around for 20 years. In that time, it has saved countless lives and given people the ability to live happier, healthier lives. The government’s initial support for vapes has given way to nanny-state bans and ill-thought-out cash grabs on retailers and citizens.
We’ve got the message. We’re on our own, and no one is coming to save us. The next 20 years are vital to ensuring UK citizens have the right to give up cigarettes in the way they want. Let’s dig in.