Concerns have been raised by a senior MP in the UK about the availability of “Monster vape” kits that claim to deliver the equivalent puff-power of over 8,000 cigarettes. Dr. Beccy Cooper, a Labour MP and public health doctor, is urging for the Tobacco & Vapes Bill to address legal loopholes that allow the sale of these 100,000-puff vape packages in the UK.
The popularity of these kits has risen since the Government’s decision to prohibit disposable vapes in June last year. Dr. Cooper, who represents Worthing West, stated that these “monster vapes” contradict the ban on disposable vapes and existing regulations on tank size. She emphasized the need to close these regulatory gaps to prevent devices that claim to offer tens of thousands of puffs from being accessible in the UK market.
According to UK regulations, individual vape tanks are limited to holding a maximum of 2ml of nicotine e-liquid. However, campaigners warn that some manufacturers are exploiting these rules by producing devices with multiple 2ml tanks within a single vape 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 weekly sales. There was also a reported 17% increase in the sales value of vaping devices claiming to provide over 600 puffs between June and October the previous year.
Advocates for circular economies, such as Material Focus, have cautioned that “big puff” vapes offer a lower cost per inhalation compared to disposable devices. These models were highlighted for their environmental impact and the potential for a continued “vapocalypse” even post the single-use vape ban.
The 100,000-puff vape kits, which come in various flavors like watermelon ice and strawberry ice, adhere to regulations by meeting criteria for reusability. To put it into perspective, a single combustible cigarette typically provides around 10 to 15 puffs.
Campaigners have expressed concerns that the affordability of these devices may discourage users from reusing them, leading to frequent purchases of new ones. This behavior contradicts the intention of the disposable vape ban, which aimed to reduce the disposal of toxic batteries and prevent the wastage of critical minerals.
Vaping products have gained traction as aids for smoking cessation, with early research indicating that using e-cigarettes is less harmful than smoking. However, the long-term effects remain uncertain, prompting health experts to advise non-smokers and children against vaping.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently advancing through the House of Lords, will prohibit individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, from purchasing cigarettes in the future.