UK convenience stores are feeling the impact of last year’s ban on disposable vapes, with sales dropping significantly, according to data from analytics firm Talysis, cited by Tobacco Journal. Thus, nearly eight months after the ban, unit sales of vapes are down 20.8% and value sales have fallen 12.7%, with fewer customers visiting, lower turnover, and higher operating costs. The firm attributed some of the decline to slower-than-expected adoption of reusable vape alternatives.

“Losing 21% of unit sales in a category that once drove strong footfall is a huge blow for stores,” said Talysis MD Ed Roberts. He added that the shift in formats means retailers are “missing out” on revenue.

Before the ban, shoppers typically paid £ 5 – 6 for a single-use 2 ml vape. Now, the same money buys two 2 ml pods, reducing the frequency of store visits. Larger ‘big puff’ kits, which deliver up to five times more liquid, have also cut how often customers need to restock. Meanwhile, managing stock has become more complicated, with over 2,000 new vape barcodes introduced in 2025 alone.

Although tobacco remains the top category in UK convenience stores, Talysis warns that changes like the disposable vape ban can have a “monumental impact” on the sector. Clarity data shows the tobacco and smoking alternatives category’s share of the convenience market fell by 2.1 percentage points year-on-year to 30.3%, with an 8% drop in value and a 13.4% decline in volume.