Since its inception nearly a decade ago, the vaping industry has thrived within the UK. With the risks and costs of smoking traditional cigarettes, vapes have emerged as a better and safer alternative. After assimilating into society and culture, the UK government has accordingly adapted the laws governing the use of vaping devices and e-liquids.
The TPD directive went into effect on May 20, 2016, limiting tank sizes, maximum nicotine strengths, and bottle sizes. It also meant that any vaping product sold in the UK market had to be submitted to the MHRA to guarantee the quality and safety of these products.
Although the vaping market has grown in size, the devices themselves have shrunk, and we've seen a new trend in the last two years: the incredibly easy to use disposable vapes. As a result of their enormous popularity, we are seeing a flurry of disposable vape releases, and retailers are stocking them without hesitation.
In addition to specialist vape shops and supermarkets selling these devices, they are now being sold in your local corner shop, cafe/fast food store and marketplaces such as Ebay and Gumtree. While the majority of these stores adhere to the regulations, there are a few rogues who disregard the health of their customers in favour of a quick buck.
News reports of shops having their stock seized are becoming more common, but with so many stores now selling these devices, it is becoming nearly impossible to police.
There are a few things you can look out for as a consumer to ensure you're buying legitimate and regulated products.
