Vape shop owners have warned government plans to ban disposable e-cigarettes will hit their business hard – but vapers themselves have welcomed the move

Rishi Sunak confirmed during a visit to a school earlier today he plans to make the devices illegal across the UK to combat a rise in young people using them.

There are also proposed new rules too for packaging, shop displays and flavours marketed to children.

It is already illegal to sell a vape to anyone under the age of 18 but the availability of small, colourful disposable vapes is thought to be behind the rise in kids using them.

But while supportive of the need to curb their use among children, small business owners have warned of the financial hit they could suffer overall under an outright ban.

Kabob Singh, owner of iRepair in Canterbury, said: “For our shop, it is not a good thing because these products are giving us some income.

“I agree that younger people shouldn’t be vaping, but it’s more about the parents of the kids - they smoke in front of their children, and how are the kids getting the money to buy the vapes?

“The government should bring a stricter law to penalise businesses that are selling to people who are underage, not ban the products outright.”

Muharram Qumri, who manages iRepair Tech, a few doors down, thinks the policy goes too far. He believes it could cut his shop’s revenue by as much as 30%.

But people using e-cigarettes on Canterbury High Street told KentOnline they would support the new rules.

Alice Ulvmoen used to smoke cigarettes but now uses disposable vapes to keep her nicotine cravings at bay.

“If they are banned it will suck at first but I think it will be a good thing in the long run,” said the Whitstable resident.

“I know it is a problem for children, I have seen even 9 year-olds using vapes and they do it just to show off.

“It seems like the younger generation have just gone straight to vaping. If the disposable vapes were banned I would probably get a reusable one but I think the kids would probably just quit.”

Data from Action on Smoking and Health charity reveals 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds vape on a regular basis, while 70% of underage vapers also admit to having tried smoking.

It is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s but the Prime Minister says that the devices’ colourful marketing are a "key driver behind the alarming rise in youth vaping”.

“Children disproportionately and overwhelmingly use disposable vapes, said Mr Sunak.

“And that’s what this is about, it’s about protecting children’s health.

"Children shouldn't be vaping, we don't want them to get addicted, we still don't understand the full long-term health impacts.”

To read more about the new laws coming in click here.

The government hopes its new bill will pass Parliament by the time of any general election - expected this year - with it coming into force officially in early 2025.

Retailers will be given six months to comply with the new rule.