ASH Scotland welcomes details of the Scottish Government’s ban on disposable e-cigarettes

ASH Scotland welcomes the details announced today about the Scottish Government’s proposed ban on the supply of disposable e-cigarettes.

In draft regulations published this morning, disposable e-cigarettes will be banned in Scotland from 1 April 2025. It follows a recommendation to outlaw the devices following a UK-wide consultation into youth vaping at the end of 2023.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Disposable recreational e-cigarettes are the product of choice for the majority of youngsters who vape so the Scottish Government’s announcement today giving details of its ban is a major step forward towards halting the alarming huge upsurge of children and young people vaping.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments to take urgent regulatory actions to protect children from harms caused by vaping, following mounting evidence of adverse health impacts, and studies consistently showing that young people who use e-cigarettes are up to three times at greater risk of starting to smoke tobacco.

“With most disposable vaping products containing high levels of nicotine, which is extremely addictive, as well as toxic chemicals that have not been safety tested for inhalation and can damage lung health, the ban is both urgent and necessary to protect the health of children now and future generations.

“We thank the Scottish Government for taking this vital regulatory action after listening to young people, parents, teachers and other Ban Disposable Vape campaigners who are expressing deep concerns about the impacts these health and environmental harming products are having on society.”

We first raised awareness about concerns regarding disposable e-cigarettes on World No Tobacco Day 2022 which had a theme focusing on protecting the environment. Read more here.

For details of the draft regulations to implement a ban on single-use vapes, click here.