Disposable e-cigarette ban in UK could lead to cigarette "comeback," warns environment department

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a warning that the planned ban on disposable e-cigarettes, due to take effect next summer, could lead to some users "taking up or returning to traditional cigarettes," according to a report in The Guardian on November 1.

The department stated that from 2012 to 2023, the e-cigarette usage rate in England has increased by over 400%, with 9.1% of the public purchasing and using such products. However, Defra's impact assessment shows that the disposable e-cigarette ban proposal to be submitted to Parliament this year could result in 29% of current e-cigarette users relapsing or returning to smoking.

The report further states that: "We assume that the majority of disposable e-cigarette users will transition to using reusable e-cigarettes, but there may also be a portion of users who may either return to smoking or quit both e-cigarettes and smoking altogether."

The legislation was proposed by Rishi Sunak during his term in office, but the UK government did not have enough time to pass the legislation during the previous parliamentary session.

Previously, Health Minister Wes Streeting stated that he planned to submit the bill before Christmas. Labour MP Mary Glindon criticized the Chancellor in budget debates for taxing e-cigarette liquid, saying it could hinder people's efforts to quit smoking. A previous study indicated that approximately 1 million adults in England currently use e-cigarettes.

"Our changes will protect an entire generation of children from the dangers of smoking and nicotine addiction. Last year, a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds had tried e-cigarettes, with the number of children using e-cigarettes doubling in the past three years. Our Tobacco and E-cigarette Act will pave the way for a 'smoke-free' UK, helping future generations to lead healthier lives and reducing the strain on our National Health Service (NHS)."