ELFBAR Study: UK E-Cigarette Ban Could Boost Illegal Products and Smoking Rates

According to a report by Talking Retail on November 6th, a study commissioned by e-cigarette brand ELFBAR in May 2024 has shown that a ban on disposable e-cigarettes in the UK, along with flavor bans, standardized packaging without branding, and a ban on retail displays, could have serious consequences.

This survey involved 6,000 adults, and the results indicate that 58% (more than 3 million) of smokers and recent quitters who are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking (quit smoking within the last five years) may be at risk of smoking more, relapsing, or switching to illegal e-cigarettes.

ELFBAR believes that the government must carefully weigh a large amount of evidence to demonstrate that e-cigarettes are an effective tool and widely recognized method to help smokers overcome nicotine addiction.

In light of the ban on disposable e-cigarettes affecting over 60% of the e-cigarette market in the UK, ELFBAR stated that it is necessary to assess the impact of this measure on the country's health objectives.

Eve Peters, Director of Government Affairs at ELFBAR, stated that the British government has reached an agreement.

We are pleased to see provisions for licensing regulations and a commitment to strengthening enforcement included in the bill, indicating that the government has been communicating with and listening to the opinions of many stakeholders in the field.

While we recognize and support taking action to address the issue of youth vaping, it must be acknowledged that e-cigarette products, including disposable e-cigarettes, are key smoking cessation tools that have helped millions of adult smokers quit.

A impact assessment by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed that three out of every ten current e-cigarette users may revert to smoking if a ban is imposed. Officials have warned that an increase in smoking rates could lead to significant health risks, undermining the government's smoke-free objectives. Therefore, we urge the government to carefully evaluate the evidence, especially regarding flavors, before considering further restrictions on e-cigarettes, as this is crucial for adult smokers, as confirmed by multiple independent studies.