One year after disposable vapes were banned, reports to No Ifs. No Butts. have reached their highest monthly level since the reporting route began.
No Ifs. No Butts. is an anonymous reporting route run by ASH Wales. It gives people a simple way to report concerns about illegal tobacco, illegal vapes, online sellers, cannabis THC products and underage sales.
In May 2025, just before the disposable vape ban came into force, No Ifs. No Butts. received 15 reports. In May 2026, reports reached 150. That is ten times higher than the same month last year, and equal to almost one report every five hours.
The rise does not mean one simple thing. It may reflect greater public awareness, more people knowing where to report, and ongoing concern about what people are seeing in their communities.
What it does show clearly is this: people are still seeing things that worry them.
The ban changed the legal market
The UK ban on selling or supplying single use vapes came into force on 1st June 2025. It was introduced to reduce disposable vape litter, battery waste and youth vaping.
Survey data shows fewer people now say disposable vapes are their main product. Among young people aged 11 to 17 who vape, the proportion mainly using disposables fell from 42% in 2025 to 13% in 2026. Among adults who vape, it fell from 24% to 8%.
That shows the ban has shifted what many people say they are using. But reports to No Ifs. No Butts. show the wider picture is still not simple.
The market adapted quickly. Many single use vapes have been replaced by cheap rechargeable, high puff products. Some meet the technical rules, but can still look similar, cost a similar amount, be used for a short time and then thrown away.
For parents, carers, teachers, youth workers and communities, that can make things harder to understand. For Trading Standards teams, it can make enforcement more difficult too.
The question is no longer just whether a disposable vape is openly displayed on a shelf. It is what replaced it, how products are being sold, and whether young people can still access them.
What people are reporting
Reports to No Ifs. No Butts. show a changing picture.
People are reporting illegal vapes, cheap tobacco, products kept behind counters, online sellers, local delivery, social media accounts and products being sold to young people.
More than one in three reports received in May raised concerns about underage sales or young people accessing illegal tobacco or vapes.
Online selling is becoming a bigger part of the picture too. Reports about online sellers are already almost three times higher than last year’s full total.
Hidden stock is another recurring theme. Around one in five reports this year mention products being hidden or kept out of sight.
Illegal tobacco remains closely linked to the issue. Around two thirds of reports this year mention illegal tobacco, and around one in four mention both illegal tobacco and illegal vapes.
These patterns matter. A single report may seem small, but it can help build a clearer picture of where products are being sold, where young people may be accessing them, and where local teams may need to look.
What this means for communities
The disposable vape ban was an important step, but it was never going to solve every concern around illegal vapes, youth access or throwaway vape culture on its own.
Reports suggest the issue is moving across different routes. Some concerns involve shops. Others involve online accounts, group chats, local delivery, hidden stock or sellers known in the community.
That is why anonymous reporting matters.
You do not need to know whether something is definitely illegal. You do not need to know the full story. You do not need proof. A shop name, postcode, product, price, online account, delivery area or concern about young people can still help.
Waste is still part of the picture
The ban was partly introduced because disposable vapes were creating a serious waste problem. Vapes contain batteries and electrical components, and should never be thrown into household bins, streets, parks or waterways.
Research by Material Focus found that the number of vapes and pods being thrown away has reduced since the ban. But more than 6 million vapes and pods are still being discarded every week.
That means the waste problem has reduced, but it has not gone away. Cheap rechargeable and high puff products can still end up being treated like throwaway items.
What people can report
You can report concerns about:
- Illegal vapes being sold in shops or online
- Single use vapes still being sold after the ban
- Cheap rechargeable or high puff products that seem suspicious
- Vapes being sold to young people
- Cheap tobacco or cigarettes sold under the counter
- Products kept hidden behind counters or in back rooms
- Online sellers, social media accounts, group chats or delivery offers
- Cannabis THC, HHC, spice or synthetic cannabinoid vape concerns
- Adults buying products for someone under 18
You do not need to investigate, confront anyone or collect evidence.
A small detail can help
No Ifs. No Butts. helps turn public concern into useful local information. Reports can help identify repeat sellers, local hotspots, hidden stock, online sellers and concerns involving young people.
If something does not feel right, you can share what you know anonymously.
Report a concern at: noifs-nobutts.co.uk/report