The 2025 Illegal Vapes Report

Vaping remains one of the most effective smoking cessation tools. To date, it has helped a significant number of individuals across the country quit cigarette smoking. According to new data from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), nearly 3 million people in Britain have quit smoking with help from a vaping device in the last 5 years.

Unfortunately, there’s a growing problem with illegal black-market vapes in the UK, which are being imported and sold by unscrupulous retailers. This was evidenced in our landmark 2024 Illegal Vapes Report, which provided a nationwide overview of the issue for the first time. In this updated study - The 2025 Illegal Vapes Report - we provide the latest data on the issue.

The UK government is planning to bring The Tobacco and Vapes Bill into force from 1st June 2025, banning the sale of disposable vaping products. This move is predicted by many in the industry to further increase the risk of illegal vapes entering the market.

To promote meaningful action on the issue of illegal black market vapes, we’ve long called for a retail and distributor licensing framework to tackle dangerous illegal vapes head on. In this, our 2025 Illegal Vapes Report, data findings bolster evidence for the need for urgent measures to directly target the issue of illegal vapes entering and being sold in the UK.

• Raise awareness and expose the extent of the issue of illegal vaping products in the UK.
• Outline what’s needed from the government to stamp out the illegal vape market.
• Guide the public on how to identify illegal vaping products.