The ban on disposable vapes introduced last year continues to impact independent retailers, according to research by Talysis.
In its figures for the first quarter of 2026, Talysis reported tobacco, vapes and smoking alternatives category sales decreases of 4.4% in value and 7.8% in volume versus the same quarter last year.
Within that, the vaping sub-category also saw decreases of 3.9% in value and 10.3% in volume sales over the same period year-on-year.
Earlier this year, Talysis’s report on Convenience 2025 (A review of the year in UK convenience) revealed that tobacco, vapes and smoking alternatives fell by 8% (value) and 13.4% (volume) year on year during 2025.
The research revealed how formats have changed, with purchasing patterns indicating that the shift towards reusable formats is far from embedded amongst consumers. Larger puff kits (12ml) and smaller puff kits (2ml) together (1.3m units) are currently outselling standard refill pods (1.1m units) each week, despite being designed for repeated use.
Pricing is also influencing category performance, with consumers more regularly able to purchase double the liquid (eg 2x2ml pods) for a similar price to the previous single-use disposable vape (1x2ml), creating clear cost savings for those who adopt reusable formats.
The rapid growth of ‘Big Puff’ products, which are generating approximately £6m per week, means that consumers are able to access significantly larger volumes of e-liquid (eg 12ml) in a single purchase, with the knock-on effect of reducing footfall instore.
On a more positive note, oral nicotine is particularly thriving, showing a 42.5% increase in value and a 46% rise in units during Q1 in 2026 vs Q1 2025, which portrays its rapid acceptance among consumers.
Commenting on the research, Talysis managing director Ed Roberts, said: “Our first quarter focus on tobacco and vaping continues to paint a sobering picture for the independent convenience sector. The ban still isn’t working as intended, but is creating further pressure points for an already struggling sector. What was previously around £20 million per week concentrated in disposable vapes is now spread across multiple sub-categories. This fragmentation, combined with improved value per ml for consumers, suggests that while total spend may appear to be declining, usage levels may not be falling at the same rate.”
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