Consumers are struggling to find refill pods for reusable vapes, prompting many to treat the refillable devices as disposable, a recent report has found, highlighting flaws in the government's crackdown on single-use vapes.
In a report by ITV News on Monday (June 30), it is claimed that the ban on disposable vapes "may not go far enough in tackling" the problems of waste and youth vaping due to which the ban was introduced at the first place.
Since June 1, the sale of disposable vapes has been banned in the UK. Only rechargeable and refillable vape devices are now legal.
However, many of the new devices on the market look nearly identical to the banned ones and are sold at similar price points. The only visible difference is the addition of a charging port and the ability to replace the liquid “pods”.
The report claims that there’s some "fundamental flaws" in the new regulation, with a key issue that finding liquids for refillable vapes is proving to be tricky. In some cases, retailers are even suggesting to customers that it’s simpler to just buy a new vape instead.
The pod is essentially a container that is separately available and can be replaced by a user so the vape can continue its normal course of use.
Under current regulations, retailers are not explicitly required to stock the pods or coils that make the devices reusable—raising concerns that the entire purpose of the ban could be undermined.
Without easy access to replacements, there’s a risk that shoppers will continue using reusables like disposables, simply discarding the whole device once the liquid runs out.
Shopkeepers told ITV News they are trying to stock the refill pods but have been unable to secure sufficient supply.
Chris Noice, communications director with the Association of Convenience Stores said, “One of the biggest frustrations retailers have had is that they are selling rechargeable and refillable vapes, but they're not able to get hold of the pods.
“It's not for a lack of trying. Retailers are trying to get hold of them … It's a real problem with the regulations at the moment … and suppliers need to do more. They need to make these pods available on the market and get them into more retailers.”
Independent British Vape Trade Association however claims otherwise.
"Our members are reporting that sales of replacement pods are out stripping sales of the devices, in many cases by a factor of between three and nine.
"This therefore would indicate that consumers are aware that the devices are reusable and replacement pods are available. The uptake in reusable products may have taken some suppliers by surprise, which may mean some temporary supply issues," ITV quoted the statement from IBVTA.