Sales figures for disposable vapes in decline

The new Tobacco Products Act has been in force in Switzerland for a good six months. Since October 1, 2024, disposable e-cigarettes have been restricted to a maximum of 2 ml of e-liquid and have become much more expensive with a high tax of CHF 1 per milliliter of liquid. We use current sales figures to show you the impact the new restrictions have had on disposable e-cigarettes.

Price increase boosts sales of reusable vapes

Before the new legislation, disposable vapes were relatively inexpensive in Switzerland and extremely popular thanks to their ease of use. At CHF 1 per milliliter of e-liquid, disposable vapes will be taxed five times more than rechargeable reusable vape systems starting in October 2024. After just six months, the liquid tax, combined with targeted marketing measures to promote reusable vapes, is having a significant impact. In the online shop Shisha Heaven, sales of disposable products are falling by more than 30% , with a strong trend toward prefilled pod systems emerging.

Good reasons for switching to reusable vapes

Shisha Heaven's latest sales figures for disposable vapes confirm a strong trend toward reusable vape systems . Anyone familiar with the e-cigarette industry should be unsurprisingly surprised by this development. After all, prefilled pod systems with rechargeable batteries and replaceable cartridges are almost as easy to use as disposable products, but you get twice the performance for the same price . Furthermore, lithium-ion battery consumption is drastically reduced, and the only waste generated is empty liquid pods.

Switzerland decides to ban disposable vapes

In some European countries, such as France and England, the sale of disposable e-cigarettes is already banned. Switzerland has decided on a national ban on disposable vapes in 2025, but it is still unclear when exactly the law will come into force as of October 2025.

Does a ban on disposable e-cigarettes make sense?

As one of the leading vape stores in Switzerland, we are not against a blanket ban on disposable e-cigarettes. Why? There are now many reusable systems that are almost as easy to use as disposable products. The argument that disposable vapes make it easier for ex-smokers to switch is therefore no longer valid. We are also of the opinion that every vaper can be expected to connect their e-cigarette to a charging cable if necessary. The small additional effort saves resources to a large extent and prevents countless batteries from ending up in normal waste or even in nature.

However, a ban on disposable e-cigarettes has nothing to do with the protection of minors. Because if these products are banned, the corresponding reusable alternatives will simply appear on the shelves a week later. And these hardly differ from the disposable products in terms of appearance and taste and are even cheaper due to the lower liquid tax.

The future of e-cigarettes in Switzerland

As the example of the disposable e-cigarette shows, the legal framework has a strong influence on the development of the Swiss vape market. Strong regulations and taxation lead to shifts within product categories. The consumption of e-cigarettes can and should be critically scrutinized. Scientific studies continue to indicate that the risk potential of vapes is significantly lower than that of tobacco cigarettes. Legislators should therefore ensure that less harmful alternatives remain more attractive in the future than the deadly original, which kills 9,000 people every year in Switzerland alone.