VAPE BAN FAIL: 64% of disposable vape users in Northern Ireland are buying on the black market

Disposable vapes were officially banned in the UK in June 2025, and at the time, industry experts warned that this could lead to a rise in black market activity. There have been reports of a rapidly growing black market for disposable vapes, and Trading Standards have been regularly making seizures of the now-illegal product. Today Haypp releases new data indicating the ban is not working and uncovering the real scale of the black market in disposable vape bans.

According to new research, a huge 61% of vapers in Northern Ireland are still using disposable vapes. More alarmingly, 64% of disposable vape users say in Northern Ireland that they are still buying disposable vapes.

While it’s not illegal to have possession of a disposable vape, it is illegal for disposable vapes to be sold. The challenge for the authorities is that with so many vapers reporting that they are still able to purchase the banned devices, it indicates a thriving black market and huge numbers of unscrupulous retailers.

The latest data shows where vapers, across the UK, go to purchase black-market disposable vapes:

1. Local corner shops - 55%

2. Specialist vape shops - 37%

3. Supermarkets - 34%

4. Online retailers - 28%

5. Market stalls - 18%

6. Social media sellers - 14%

7. Private via friends/ family - 12%

8. Car boot sales - 10%

This data shows that it’s not just market stalls or social media dealers that are selling disposable vapes, but corner shops and vape stores are the main sources of the problem. Unfortunately, this trend is set to continue, as 11% of Northern Ireland vape users admitted that they plan to continue purchasing disposable vapes in the future.

Worryingly, 45% of vapers in Northern Ireland are using disposable vapes purchased before the ban, posing serious safety hazards. Disposable vapes typically have a shelf life of 12 to 24 months, but poor storage conditions can shorten that dramatically. The sealed lithium-ion batteries inside disposable vapes can become unstable when exposed to heat, moisture, or physical damage, especially if stored in large quantities. Anyone still stockpiling vapes should seriously consider disposing of these products.

Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Haypp, said: “The data from our latest report clearly demonstrates that the disposable vape ban is not yet working as expected. A staggering 64% of vapers in Northern Ireland continue to use these illegal devices. The widespread availability of these illegal devices points to a very active black market that will be very difficult to police. In addition, we see that people have obviously stockpiled large quantities of disposable vapes, which presents its own safety issues. In this context, the government’s plan to introduce a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and nicotine products is a welcome and necessary move .”