While bans on single-use vapes keep popping up across the globe in the name of reducing teen vaping, experts explain why these will not really contribute much to achieving their intended objective.

Disposable vapes are facing increasing bans due to concerns over youth usage and their environmental impact, with several countries recently implementing bans on the products. Last March, New Zealand announced a ban on the sale of single-use vapes and rightly increased penalties for retailers caught selling these products to minors. Australia has also decided to combat the rise in youth vaping by announcing a ban on the importation of disposables, effective January 1, 2024.

In Europe, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak similarlyannounced a ban on disposable vapes last January, while last March, French lawmakers reached an agreement that would ban the devices by the end of 2024. Both nations cited concerns over the increased use among minors, as reasons behind the measures.

The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) has recently urged French policymakers to reconsider the recently approved ban on single use vapes. In line with countless tobacco harm reduction experts, WVA Director Michael Landl, argued that prohibition is ineffective and counterproductive to public health goals. He explained claims that banning the devices will not reduce demand but will instead drive it to the black market, resulting in negative public health outcomes.

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