As the UK ban shifts from single-use devices to reusable ones, the trend of e-cigarettes has changed.

According to NEWS-medical on April 21st: The upcoming one-time electronic cigarette ban in the UK has curbed the rising trend of electronic cigarette usage, and a nationwide transformation is taking place. A large-scale population study has documented this behavioral shift, indicating that policy signals alone can reshape the health choices of several generations.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Addiction, researchers reported that since the British government announced the new electronic cigarette policy in January 2024, the previously continuously rising usage rate of electronic cigarettes began to decline. More and more adults and young people are using refillable and rechargeable devices as alternatives to the previous one-time electronic cigarettes.
The number of British teenagers using electronic cigarettes has soared
Since 2021, the number of minors using electronic cigarettes in the UK has significantly increased. The popularity of new one-time electronic cigarettes has largely contributed to the increase in the number of teenagers using electronic cigarettes. These electronic cigarettes are inexpensive, colorful, easy to use, stylish in design, and can be discarded when the e-liquid or battery runs out.
The rapid growth in electronic cigarette usage and its negative impact on human health and the environment highlight the necessity of the federal government to impose restrictions on one-time electronic cigarettes. In 2024, the British government announced that as part of measures to alleviate the increase in electronic cigarette usage among teenagers and protect children's health, it would ban the use of one-time electronic cigarettes in the UK starting from June 1, 2025. Shortly thereafter, the governments of Scotland and Wales also confirmed their intention to implement the one-time electronic cigarette ban.

To cope with this ban, e-cigarette manufacturers began selling their popular disposable e-cigarettes in reusable versions. These newly produced rechargeable or refillable e-cigarette products have quickly gained popularity among young people. Some users of disposable e-cigarettes may have switched to reusable devices.
As more and more countries implement federal regulations, policymakers must understand the impact of these strategies.
About the research
The researchers of this study determined the changes in e-cigarette usage from January 2022 to January 2025. All relevant data came from the Smoking Toolkit Study, which is a continuous cross-sectional survey conducted on a representative sample of British teenagers.
The determination of e-cigarette usage was based on the following questions: Participants were asked about their current smoking status, whether they had quit smoking or reduced the amount of smoking, and the factors that prompted them to decide to quit. The study also asked about the type of e-cigarette or vaping device used by the participants. Research results
From January 2022 to January 2025, a total of 88,611 research participants were included. The average age of the participants was 48.1 years, and 50.6% were female.
A total of 9,276 participants aged between 16 and 24 years participated in this study. Approximately 4.8% of the respondents failed to specify the type of electronic cigarette device they used, and thus were excluded from the final analysis.
Since January 2022, the usage rate of electronic cigarettes among adults and teenagers has increased at a rate of 23.4% per year and 17% per year respectively. In addition, the number of electronic cigarette users among adults who mainly use disposable devices has increased at a rate of 17.7% per year, while the proportion of electronic cigarette users among teenagers has remained stable.
After January 2024, the prevalence of electronic cigarettes has undergone a significant change. The usage rates of electronic cigarettes among adults and young people have remained unchanged. The usage rates of disposable electronic cigarettes among adults and young people have also sharply decreased by 32.6% and 44.3% respectively.
"The prevalence of electronic cigarettes has not increased but has instead stabilized. The proportion of electronic cigarette users who mainly use disposable electronic cigarettes has decreased significantly."

Assuming the current trend continues, researchers estimate that by June 2025, 24.9% of adult e-cigarette users and 27.6% of young adult e-cigarette users will completely switch to disposable e-cigarettes. Conclusion
Since the British government announced in January 2024 that it intended to ban disposable electronic cigarettes, more and more people have started using reusable electronic cigarette devices instead of disposable ones. Therefore, although the strict policy options under the "Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Act" may not completely eliminate electronic cigarettes, some restrictions might need to be implemented to further reduce the already declining usage rate of electronic cigarettes.
"Although the fact that electronic cigarette users no longer use disposable products may have a positive impact on reducing environmental harm, this does not mean that banning disposable electronic cigarettes will not have a significant impact on reducing the prevalence of electronic cigarettes."
Overall, these findings provide important insights into the impact of rapidly evolving policies on electronic cigarettes.