UK Ban on Disposable Vapes Goes into Effect

(FILES) A display of disposable vape electronic cigarettes are seen in a shop in Liverpool, north-west England, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) A display of disposable vape electronic cigarettes are seen in a shop in Liverpool, north-west England, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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UK Ban on Disposable Vapes Goes into Effect

(FILES) A display of disposable vape electronic cigarettes are seen in a shop in Liverpool, north-west England, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) A display of disposable vape electronic cigarettes are seen in a shop in Liverpool, north-west England, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

A ban on disposable vapes goes into effect across the UK on Sunday in a bid to protect children's health and tackle a "throwaway" culture.

"For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine," junior environment minister Mary Creagh said.

She said the government was calling "time on these nasty devices" -- a type of e-cigarette which are very popular with young people -- and banning sales of single-use vapes or their supply in a crackdown on UK corner shops and supermarkets.

Those caught flouting the ban will face a £200 fine ($269), while repeat offenders risk up to two years in prison, AFP reported.

Young people and children in particular have been attracted to cheap and colorful disposable vapes, which have snazzy flavors such as mint, chocolate, mango or watermelon, since they were introduced in the UK in 2021.

In 2024, nearly five million disposable vapes were thrown away each week, according to Material Focus, an independent UK-based non-profit.

More than 40 tons of lithium, a key metal used in the technology industry, was discarded each year along with single-use vapes -- enough to power 5,000 electrical vehicles, the NGO said.

Fire services have also warned about the risk of discarded vapes catching light among household rubbish.

"Every vape has potential to start a fire if incorrectly disposed of," said Justin Greenaway, commercial manager at electronic waste processing company SWEEEP Kuusakoski.

The new law, first proposed by the previous Conservative government, also aims to stem a rise in vaping.

"This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children, while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking," said Caroline Cerny, deputy chief executive for health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

A recent ASH survey said 11 percent of adults vape, or about 5.6 million people, and 18 percent of 11 to 17 year olds -- about 980,000 under-18s. Among vapers, some 52 percent of young adults aged between 18 to 24 preferred single-use vapes.

The long-term health risks of vaping remain unclear.

E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke. But they do still contain highly addictive nicotine.

The upcoming ban has already led to a fall in disposable vapes. According to ASH, the use of disposables by 18-24-year-old vapers fell from 52 percent in 2024 to 40 percent in 2025.

The UK ban follows similar European moves. Belgium and France became the first EU countries to ban sales of disposable vapes.

Ireland is also preparing to introduce new restrictions.

But critics have argued many users will simply switch to refillable or reusable vaping devices, which will limit the impact on nicotine consumption.

And industry experts say the ban could lead to more illegal products entering the UK market.

The bill "only makes it illegal to sell disposable vapes -- it does not prohibit their use," warned Dan Marchant, director of Vape Club, the UK's largest online vape retailer.

"We risk a surge of illegal and potentially dangerous items flooding the black market."



Hundreds Evacuated as Greece Wildfire Rages on Crete

Firefighters stand next to rising flames as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
Firefighters stand next to rising flames as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
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Hundreds Evacuated as Greece Wildfire Rages on Crete

Firefighters stand next to rising flames as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
Firefighters stand next to rising flames as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis

A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of locals and tourists, officials said on Thursday.

Greece is sweltering in a heatwave that is searing much of southern Europe, said AFP.

The country has become particularly vulnerable in recent years to summer wildfires, which are fueled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change.

Local media said around 1,500 people had to be evacuated because of the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday evening.

"Evacuations took place in numerous hotels and tourists were safely transferred to a closed gymnasium in the municipality of Ierapetra," vice-prefect Yannis Androulakis told TV channel Mega, referring to the holiday town in the southeast.

He said the authorities acted because water bomber planes could not reach the affected areas overnight.

"At the moment, there are three active fronts," Androulakis said. "Because of the strong winds, the fire has progressed quite rapidly."

Around 270 firefighters, 10 helicopters and drones have been deployed to tackle the blaze, said Vassilios Vathrakoyannis, a spokesman for the fire service.

They include reinforcements sent in from the capital, Athens.

"There are still a number of different fronts. The fire is burning scrubland and crops," he said.

"The winds are very strong -- up to nine on the Beaufort scale."

- Uneven, arid terrain -

Crete, Greece's largest island, has an arid, uneven landscape criss-crossed by gullies, making it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze.

The fire has damaged both houses and crops in fruit and vegetable greenhouses, local media said.

Like the rest of Crete, Ierapetra –- a seaside resort with a population of 23,000 -- takes in thousands of tourists in the summer.

Vathrakoyannis said the authorities would assess the extent of the damage once the fire had been brought under control.

He stressed the risk of fires was "considerable" in July, the hottest month of the year in Greece.

Until now, Greece had been more or less spared the heatwave that has gripped other parts of southern Europe.

The country recorded its hottest ever summer last year when 45,000 hectares were torched, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory.

In terms of surface area destroyed, 2023 was the worst on record.

Nearly 175,000 hectares were obliterated and 20 people died during a series of prolonged heatwaves when temperatures rose in places to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit).