Youth Vaping: No End In Sight As Loophole In Tobacco And Vapes Bill Open Floodgates

VPZ, the UK’s largest vape retailer, is warning youth vaping will continue to rise after the Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill is introduced due to a loophole.

It is urging governing bodies to take responsibility and make their stance clear over a super-size disposable vape, with a higher nicotine intake, which is set to slip through the net.

The Vaping Specialist is demanding Trading Standards and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provide clarity on so-called ‘Big Puff’.

These larger devices, which give up to 30,000 puffs, are currently approved for sale despite the disposables ban coming into force on June 1, 2025.

Sold for as little as £9.99, they are currently being sold in unlicensed premises throughout the country such as toy stores, snack vans, barbers and American candy stores. VPZ has reached out to both the MHRA and Trading Standards to warn on the legality of the product.

However, MHRA replied saying it was the responsibility of Trading Standards, while Trading Standards said it was the responsibility of MHRA.

The device can hold up to 6 more times more e-liquid than the standard disposable and will be thrown away after use.

The product is aiming to get around the disposables ban and will trigger a surge in youth uptake and further accelerate an unprecedented environmental crisis, with much bigger batteries.

Greig Fowler, Director of VPZ, said: “We backed and fully welcome the disposables ban that is set to come into force on June 1.

“However, it is now bordering on insanity, at the same time approve a super-size disposable that is going to bring an even greater youth and environmental crisis.

“This product can hold 6 times the amount of e-liquid of the current disposable product.

“We have been offered devices with up to 30,000 puffs which are MHRA registered which is mind-blowing to say the least – that’s 50 times the puff count of a 2ml disposable.

“If youth addiction was a concern through 2 ml disposables, how can this make sense? The TRPR regulations stipulates 2 ml tanks and 10 ml replenishable bottles, so essentially, they are not following their own rules, which were introduced in 2016.

“We have raised our concerns with both the MHRA and Trading Standards on the approval of these dangerous products but neither have provided any explanation or clarity.

“It’s alarming a product that is a danger to young people and our environment can be approved by the very bodies that are in place to protect us, with neither taking responsibility.

“It’s vital that these authorities and the Government quickly recognise and wake up to the dangers posed by this new breed of super-sized disposable.

“Failing to act decisively now means ignoring the growing risks it presents, not just to the health and well-being of young people, but also to our environment and spaces throughout the country.

“Without immediate intervention, they will be sleepwalking into another crisis, one that threatens to undermine public health efforts and exacerbate current environmental challenges.”

So-called ‘Big Puff’ vapes exploit a loophole in the vaping law that allows the sale of devices with greater liquid capacity than the legislated 2 ml.

By utilising an external plug-in tank of 10 ml, these vaping units effectively become a 12 ml product, which is 6 times more than the allowed vaping liquid in a disposable device.

Despite being considered rechargeable, the super-size vape products are made with a low-quality battery, and an unchangeable coil which effectively makes them single use.