LONDON, UK: As of this month, it's officially illegal to buy disposable vapes anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The new ban, aimed at curbing youth vaping and cutting down on environmental waste, applies to all single-use vapes — whether they contain nicotine or not. Retailers, both online and in-store, must stop selling them, though reusable vapes are still allowed.

The UK government said the move is a direct response to the sharp rise in young people using vapes, particularly in schools, and the growing problem of vape-related litter. According to estimates, five million disposable vapes are either binned or littered every week in the country, many of them ending up in landfills or city streets instead of being recycled.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets."

The UK joins countries like Belgium, which banned disposables earlier this year, and Australia, where vapes can only be sold in pharmacies under strict conditions. In the U.S., California has been among the most proactive states in regulating e-cigarettes.

Disposable vapes—which are not rechargeable or refillable—are difficult to recycle, require manual dismantling, and pose risks to wildlife and recycling centers due to their lithium batteries.

Retailers were given six months to sell off their remaining stock. Those who ignore the new law face a 200-pound (US$260) fine for a first offense, followed by potentially unlimited fines or even jail for repeat violations.

The UK Vaping Industry Association said it had complied with the rules but warned that the ban could backfire.

"We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes... to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said John Dunne, the group's director general.

The government is also developing new legislation to regulate e-cigarette packaging, marketing, and flavors, aiming to further limit youth appeal.