One-way vape ban Switzerland - Does that make sense?

On May 6, 2025, the Council of States passed a national ban on disposable vapes. The primary aim of the motion is to protect young people from the health risks posed by disposable e-cigarettes. Only secondarily does it draw attention to the poor ecological balance of this product category. Anyone familiar with the e-cigarette industry will frown at this argument. We explain why:

Disposable vapes are popular with young people

It is true that disposable vapes are also popular with young people. However, this does not change the fact that the boom in disposable vapes, which began in Switzerland in 2021, has prompted many adult smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. And this is exactly why the e-cigarette was invented, as an alternative to the deadly tobacco cigarette. Modern vapes are undoubtedly attractive products that allow enjoyment with great flavors and without smelly smoke. Both adult smokers and young people have discovered this.

Does a one-way vape ban protect young people?

A ban on disposable e-cigarettes has nothing to do with the protection of minors. Why? Because there are now countless reusable e-cigarettes that look exactly the same, taste the same, are easy to use and are even cheaper. Many politicians use the argument that disposable vapes are particularly popular with young people because of their low price. This statement is fundamentally wrong! Since October 1, 2024, disposable vapes have been taxed five times more heavily than reusable products. Consuming a reusable e-cigarette is more than 50% cheaper in the long term than buying disposable vapes.

What is the difference between disposable and reusable vape?

The products are practically identical. In a disposable vape, the battery, the e-liquid and the vaporizer head are permanently installed in the device. A rechargeable vape consists of a rechargeable battery carrier and a usually pre-filled liquid pod, which is then attached to the battery. The devices hardly differ visually or in terms of taste, as they use the same e-liquid and the same technology.

Why are reusable vapes cheaper than disposable products?

With the rechargeable e-cigarette, the battery part can be recharged several times and only the liquid pods are replaced when they are used up. In contrast, a battery is installed in every disposable vape. It is obvious that this results in higher production costs. In addition, the e-liquid in disposable vapes is taxed at CHF 1 per milliliter, five times higher than that of reusable products. As a result, the price of disposable vapes is almost twice as high as that of a product with replacement cartridges.

What are the consequences of a ban on disposable vapes?

If disposable vapes are banned throughout Switzerland, the next day there will simply be almost identical reusable alternatives on the shelves. This would be absolutely welcome, as it would save a lot of unnecessary battery waste, which would protect the environment. However, a ban would not improve the protection of minors, and why should it? Young people will simply switch to reusable alternatives.

• Battery waste is greatly reduced
• Sales shift to reusable products
• Black market and imports from abroad are growing
• Tax revenues from the state are lower

Why does a puff bar ban make sense?

From an ecological point of view, puff bars (disposable vapes) are definitely a questionable product. This is because as soon as the e-liquid it contains has vaporized, the entire device has to be disposed of. As many consumers do not dispose of used vapes at the recycling center, many lithium-ion batteries end up in normal waste or - even worse - in nature. A ban would therefore relieve the environment on a large scale - provided that the alternative reusable products are not disposed of after a single use.

However, the Swiss government must ask itself whether it wants to ban environmentally harmful consumer products in principle. After all, disposable e-cigarettes are by no means the only avoidable products that damage the environment on a large scale.

How can we improve the protection of minors with e-cigarettes?

We agree that e-cigarettes of any kind do not belong in the hands of young people. With an attractive stimulant that was invented as a less harmful alternative to the deadly tobacco cigarette, the challenge is to make it available to adult smokers cheaply and easily, but at the same time to prevent young people from consuming the product. With the new Tobacco Products Act, the Swiss government has already set the course for successful youth protection. However, regulations and laws only make sense if they are monitored and violations are punished. And the Confederation and cantons have room for improvement when it comes to enforcement.

• Offline age checks in stores and kiosks
• Introduction of barrier-free online age checks by the federal government (e.g. mandatory for payment provider Twint, credit card companies, invoice providers)
• Prevention measures for young people and parents
• Advertising bans

Conclusion on the one-way vape ban in Switzerland

As one of the largest vape stores in Switzerland, we support a ban on disposable vapes. Why? Because they are a pointless product from an ecological point of view and there are various good alternatives that are much less harmful to the environment. However, the argument that a ban on disposable vapes would discourage young people from using them is hypocritical and not based on facts. Effective youth protection requires simple age control tools, especially for online sales outlets, which allow adults to make purchases without any hurdles but effectively exclude young people from buying. The federal government should develop a solution here with payment providers that already have the account holder's birth data. And resources are needed to regularly check all points of sale in order to effectively enforce the legislation.