Traders question impact of disposable vape ban

Shop owners say they do not think a disposable vapes ban will make any difference in the Channel Islands - and create more waste.

A ban comes into effect across the islands on Saturday making it illegal to import or sell disposable devices - while a tax of £2.10 per 10ml of vape liquid will be introduced in Guernsey from October.

However, traders said the changes would lead to more packaging through other devices which could still be used and have little impact on their business.

Government officials said a rise in young people taking up the habit had become a "concern" and the ban would help with people's health and wellbeing.

The BBC visited vape vendors on Guernsey's high street and while many would not speak, one said they had 600 units left to sell and had not been told how to safely dispose of its surplus.

Philip Morgan, from the Paperbox in St Peter Port's Church Square, said he only has a few boxes left on his shelves and he did not think the ban would make any difference.

He added: "Certainly from our experience at the start of selling vapes there was an interest among young people, but I think that was novelty and it's worn off very, very quickly."

James Bedding, owner of the Vaporizer Hut in Jersey, said the upcoming ban had not affected his business.

"It's produced a lot more waste," he added.

"Now you buy a device and you have to buy a pod so those pods have produced a lot more packaging, before it was just a device with a battery which we were recycling anyway."

Tobin Cook, Guernsey's director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation, said the legislation had been introduced in a way to help businesses prepare.

"We have given them plenty of time to get those provisions in place, to run down their stock and if they wish to run promotions to get through remaining stock, so we hope there'll be very little amounts which need to be disposed of," he said.

Dr Nicola Brink, Guernsey's director of Public Health, said there was evidence a large number of young people were vaping.

She said: "In a 2023 survey, 29% of 16 to 24 year olds reported vaping.

"That impact on health and wellbeing and particularly on young people is of concern to us."

Martin Knight from Jersey's Public Health said he hoped the cost of replacing single use vapes would be higher and deter young people from trying vaping.

"It doesn't look like there's going to be a big cost differential but we have announced, alongside the government plan, the introduction of the vape tax," he said.

"That has been brought together in a way that is trying to increase the chances of children and young people not taking up vapes and making it less affordable to them."

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