Everything You Need To Know About The Disposable Vape Ban 2025

Why Are Disposables Being Banned?

Disposable vapes changed the way people view vaping. Love them or hate them, they offered a simple alternative to traditional vape kits and an easy way for smokers to try vaping with a low one-off cost.

The government's decision to ban all disposable vapes in the UK from June 1, 2025（ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-crackdown-on-single-use-vapes ）, despite their success in helping adult smokers switch to vaping, is misguided. This move will leave potentially over one million adult vapers without the product that stops them from smoking.

The disposable vape ban was a surprise, and we know how much people relied on these devices to stop smoking. You have options, and there's no reason to go back to cigarettes!

You still have time to stock up on your favorite disposables before the ban comes into place. You can absolutely use products purchased before June 1st. After the ban, you simply won't be able to buy any more. You're in luck: there are thousands of alternative products for you to choose from. This guide will give you the info you need to start making a decision on what your next vape will be.

What Counts As A Disposable Vape Under The New Law?

Most of us are familiar with disposable vapes, however, the government’s definitions have some vapers a little confused, as their guidelines include more products than you might think!

A vape will be considered disposable if it’s:

• Not refillable by an individual user in the normal course of their use
• Not rechargeable
• Not refillable and not rechargeable
• Not able to be fitted with a replacement heating coil which is separately available and replaceable by an individual user in the normal course of their use

Points 1 and 2 are very clear; your vape has to be refillable (via bottles of e-liquid or replacement pods / refill packs) and its battery has to be rechargeable. Point 3 is there to explain that your vape has to be refillable AND rechargeable, it can’t be one or the other.

Point 4 is a little confusing, especially if you’ve only used disposables before. A coil sits inside a tank or pod and it heats your e-liquid into vapour. This coil must be replaceable. This can be achieved through either replacing the coil itself or in the case of certain kits, the entire pod.

What Are The Alternatives To Disposable Vapes

Don't be fooled: you have more options than you think from June onward. Before disposables, vapers had plenty of options, and that's still true today. You need to find out what these alternatives are and figure out which one will work best for you. We're here to help. The following sections will walk you through exactly what's available and which ones will be the best fit.

Before we dive into our recommendations, it's essential to understand the two types of vape kits available. All vapes fall into two categories: refillable and prefilled. They both work a little differently and offer distinct advantages over each other.

What Are Prefilled Vapes

There used to be two kinds of prefilled vapes: disposables and pods. The upcoming ban means one option is clear: prefilled pod vapes. But that's ok, they're very similar to disposables because they arrive with e-liquid inside. The main differences are clear: when they run out of vape juice, you replace the pods rather than disposing of your entire device, and the battery is rechargeable.

What About Big Puff Vapes?

Hitting the shelves in 2024, big puff vapes are essentially larger prefilled pod kits. They are capable of storing a lot more e-liquid but are still legal to buy due to their innovative design. The law states that a pod or tank (a container that holds both e-liquid and a coil) can not be larger than 2ml, but these kits either use multiple 2ml pods – such is the case with 4 in 1 vapes – or they feature a 2ml pod that’s topped up by a separate 10ml e-liquid bottle that can be docked into the device – 10+2 vapes.

Clever designs aside, they are still prefilled pod kits and benefit from the same advantages and suffer most of the same disadvantages. The key difference lies in that they can be vaped for a lot longer before any parts need to be replaced, and are a lot bigger than classic 2ml pod kits.

What Are Refillable Vapes?

Refillable kits don’t share many similarities with disposables, but they offer the most variety and this makes them a very popular alternative. All refillable vape kits arrive empty and you fill them up with e-liquid. They’re available in two styles – refillable pod kits and open tank kits.

Refillable pods are generally the more compact option and use the same plastic pods as their prefilled counterpart.

Open tank kits are larger and often come equipped with bigger batteries. They use glass tanks rather than small plastic pods.

When it comes to upkeep, you’ll need to keep your kit filled with e-liquid and charge the battery whenever it runs low. You will also need to change the pod or coil regularly – around once a week or whenever you notice a slight burnt taste. Some kits use pods with built-in coils, these are a maintenance-light option as you swap out the entire pod rather than pulling out an old coil and replacing it with a new one.

Do Any Of The Major Disposable Brands Make Prefilled Or Refillable Vapes?

Yes, the biggest selling disposable brands have been hard at work creating products outside of the disposable category, including ranges of prefilled pods, refillable pods, and even the e-liquids to go with them. For more information see our specific guides on MEMERS vape, Sikary vape and Crystal Bar vape.

If you’re looking to explore more options, make sure you check out our full range of disposable alternatives.