The Scottish Health Secretary has announced a two-month delay on the ban of disposable vapes to align with new UK-wide legislation.

The ban will now take effect on 1 June 2025, instead of 1 April, as the bill is expected to be presented to Parliament before Christmas.

Neil Gray, Scottish Secretary for Health and Social Care said: “The Scottish Government was the first in the UK to commit to taking action on single use vapes. We have worked closely across the four nations to ensure a consistent approach to a ban on the sale and supply of single use vapes so we can provide certainty to businesses and consumers.” He confirmed that regulations would be laid to shift the implementation date to 1 June 2025, ensuring uniformity across the UK.

The upcoming ban comes in response to rising concerns over youth vaping rates and the environmental impact of disposable vapes.

A Scottish Government study conducted in 2023 found that 14 per cent of vapers in Scotland were under 18, with 4.3 per cent of 13-year-olds reporting regular vaping. Similar trends have been observed in England, where 24 per cent of people aged 16 to 19 reported using a vape within the past month.

Jacob George, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Dundee said: “Disposable vapes are a gateway to smoking for younger people who have never smoked before, so by reducing their availability, it becomes less likely for young people to take up vaping. They are also an environmental hazard because of both the plastic and the lithium, and for these reasons, I welcome the ban.

We know that in terms of the cardiovascular system, neither tobacco nor vaping is safe. Vaping is less harmful, however, it has its own effects, even if it takes many years before these effects are known.”

Industry leaders have cautioned that the ban could lead to a black market, driving up illegal sales. However, the government has stated there will be no grace period, and retailers must sell all stock by the deadline or face penalties.

Another Scottish Government report highlighted that an estimated five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, generating approximately 4,292 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2022 — roughly equivalent to 2,100 cars.

Bans on single use vapes are becoming more common globally as Belgium and Ireland become the latest to follow countries such as India and Australia in introducing similar restrictions.

The UK Public Health Minister, Andrew Gwynne, commented on the broader Tobacco and Vapes Bill, calling it “the biggest public health intervention in a generation,” which aims to protect young people from nicotine addiction and move towards a smoke-free UK.