Around 11% of the Welsh population currently vape and a Public Health Wales consultant says vaping is ‘affecting health and wellbeing non-stop’
The Welsh government has announced a ban on disposable vapes will start in June 2025. Sarah Murphy, the minister for mental health and wellbeing said this was to, “address the health impacts” as vaping use increases.
However, Chris Emmerson, a consultant for Public Health Wales, said there was a concern that people could abandon vapes and return to smoking tobacco.
“There is a very real concern that this would happen, particularly if people have started vaping and used it as a way to give up smoking”.
Adult vaping in Wales is at an all-time high at 11% – compared to 8% in a 2023 survey, Action on Smoking and Health Wales reports. Emmerson added that there were increasing concerns over high levels of dependency on vapes.
“We are starting to hear people coming through and requesting support to stop vaping because they have started it, either smokers or non-smokers, and now are finding it’s affecting health and well-being non-stop.
“I think one of the things that’s important to note however is we are not and would not propose the banning of vapes altogether.”
The sale of reusable vapes will still be legal. The Welsh government’s aim is to encourage people to use reusable alternatives.
Anti-smoking organisations also support the ban on disposable vapes. Suzanne Cass, chief executive for Action on Smoking and Health Wales, said a ban on vapes is: “A vital stepping stone on the path to ending the smoking epidemic once and for all.”
ASH reports a 17% growth in people vaping in the UK from 2023 to 2024.
A ‘stop smoking’ drug named varenicline and its benefits have been briefed to GPs in Wales after supplies have started to arrive, they were advised of technical elements like dosing regime, Emmerson said.
He added that the prescription is used for smoking cessation, and blocks the neurons that act as receptors for nicotine.
“We’re really trying to push forward to make it as widely available as possible.”