Urgent calls have been made by a prominent Member of Parliament in the UK to ban “monster vape” kits that have the potency of over 8,000 cigarettes.
Dr Beccy Cooper, a Labour MP and public health specialist, is urging for stricter regulations under the Tobacco & Vapes Bill to address the exploitation of legal loopholes allowing the sale of 100,000-puff vape kits in the UK.
The popularity of these kits has surged after the government’s prohibition of disposable vapes in June last year.
Expressing her concerns, Dr Cooper, who represents Worthing West, emphasized that these “monster vapes” defy the ban on disposable vapes and the existing restrictions on tank sizes. She stressed that devices promising tens of thousands of puffs pose significant public health risks and should not be accessible in the UK market.
She further stated, “It is imperative to address these regulatory gaps. While vapes can aid in smoking cessation, the availability of ultra-high-puff products hinders our efforts to create a smoke-free environment in Britain.”
According to UK regulations, the maximum e-liquid capacity for an individual vape tank is 2ml. However, campaigners caution that some manufacturers are circumventing these rules by producing devices with multiple 2ml tanks that users can interchange.
Prior to the ban on disposable vapes, studies indicated that mega-puff devices accounted for a significant portion of the market, with three million sales weekly. Additionally, there was a 17% surge in the sales value of vaping devices claiming to offer over 600 puffs between June and October last year, as reported by Better Retailing.
Material Focus, an advocate for circular economies, has long highlighted that “big puff” vapes offer a cheaper cost per inhalation compared to disposable alternatives. The organization had previously warned of a potential “vapocalypse” post the single-use vape ban due to the environmental impact of these models.
The 100,000-puff vape kits, featuring flavors such as watermelon ice and fizzy cherry cola, comply with regulations by meeting reusable standards. For perspective, a single combustible cigarette offers approximately 10 to 15 puffs.
Critics have raised concerns that the affordability of these devices discourages reuse, leading consumers to opt for new purchases. This behavior contradicts the intent of the disposable vape ban, which aimed to reduce the disposal of hazardous batteries and prevent wastage of critical minerals.
Vaping products have gained traction as a smoking cessation aid in recent years, with early research suggesting that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional smoking. However, the long-term effects remain uncertain, prompting health experts to advise against vaping for non-smokers and children.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, presently advancing through the House of Lords, will prohibit individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, from purchasing cigarettes in the future.