Costs could be 'massive' for Ipswich vape shops under ban

The sale of disposable vapes in England and Wales will be banned from next year - but those in the industry say it could lead to a massive loss of earnings if not handled right. 

Ipswich has multiple vape shops in the town centre which could all be facing the same trouble, warn industry members. 

Staff at ecigwizard have warned at a massive loss of earnings (Image: Google) A spokesperson from ecigwizard, who runs a vape shop on Westgate Street said: "If [the government] are going to do a ban, if they do do this, they are going to have to give us a deadline

"You have to think of it like this, a lot of vape companies out there like us at ecigwizard, Aquavape, Time2vape and the other guys out there, there will be a whole warehouse full of disposables.

iVape is the latest vape shop to open on the high street (Image: Tom Cann) "That's a huge loss of earnings if they banned everything straight away, the government have to give a clear deadline."

The ban comes after concerns were raised that disposable vapes' effects on the environment have increased. 

The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates that almost five million disposable vapes were littered last year, and some vapes which were recycled caught fire in recycling centres. 

Disposable vapes are typically sold in brighter package, potentially making it more appealing for children (Image: PA Media) Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries, the same type found in battery stores of electric vehicles. 

DEFRA said that in 2022, the total wastage of lithium found in vape batteries was over 40 tonnes, enough to power nearly 5,000 electric vehicles. 

As well as environmental worries, there are concerns that vapes may appeal to younger people, especially children, as vapes are often sold in bright colours and different flavours, unlike the warning labels found on cigarettes and tobacco. 

Fears about the levels of underage tobacco use have risen (Image: Google Maps) In April, owners of the The Orange Store on Norwich Road, Ipswich, were ordered to pay nearly £6,000 after being found guilty of selling vapes to underage children.

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Public Health and Public Protection, said: "This is good news in that it will reduce the access to vapes to those under the age of 18, which is where Trading Standards see a high number of complaints.

“Vaping among children is extremely concerning due to its potential long-term health effects, we know that nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development and increase the risk of addiction."

Illegal vapes may be non compliant for a variety of reasons, including having no duty being paid or over the allowed puff limit (Image: Suffolk Trading Standards) A quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in England have tried vaping according to figures the NHS revealed earlier in the year.

According to a poll by UKGOV, 5.6 million adults or 11% of the adult population are vapers, with the industry said to be worth over £1billion, according to UKVIA, the UK Vaping Industry Association.

There are fears, however, that banning disposable vapes may increase the illegal trade of vapes leading to a "black-market" of illicit tobacco products. 

Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Public Health and Public Protection  (Image: Suffolk County Council)
Hundreds of illegal vapes were seized from shops in Ipswich and Stowmarket in June, which was carried out by Suffolk Trading Standards. 

Councillor Wiles said: “While a ban on single-use vapes is to be welcomed, there is a danger that they may become a black market-type product in the same way as illegal tobacco and that we will start seeing them being hidden in shops.

“As a smoking cessation device vapes have a role to play, and while vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes it is not risk-free and health experts agree that anyone who does not already smoke should not start vaping.”