The convenience sector is bearing the brunt of the disposable vape ban, as new data reveals independent retailers continue to grapple with falling sales.
According to specialist convenience insight agency Talysis, the value of tobacco, vapes and smoking alternatives fell by 4.4% and by 7.8% in volume during the first quarter of 2026.
The vaping subcategory also saw decreases of 3.9% in value and 10.3% in volume sales over the same period compared with last year.
This year’s “worrying decline” adds to the pressures felt by the sector in 2025, when Talysis revealed tobacco, vapes and smoking alternatives fell by 8% in value and 13.4% in volume.
There are, however, shoots of growth in some of the smaller categories. Oral nicotine is thriving, showing a 42.5% increase in value and a 46% rise in units during Q1 in 2026, which portrayed its “rapid acceptance among consumers”, Talysis said.
It follows sharp increases during 2025, but the subcategory still represented “[such] a tiny share of the market that its growth is almost inconsequential”, the insight specialist added.
Talysis said the latest data highlighted the inadvertent effects of the vaping ban, namely the continued impact on turnover and footfall. It was demonstrating that retailers were losing out, not necessarily because consumption has decreased, but because the formats have changed.
Purchasing patterns indicated that the shift towards reusable formats was “far from embedded” among consumers. Puff kits are currently outselling standard refill pods, despite being designed for repeated use.
At the same time, pricing dynamics are also influencing category performance. Consumers can now purchase double the liquid for a similar price to the previous single-use disposable vape, creating a cost saving for those who adopt reusable formats.
In addition, the rapid growth of ‘big puff’ products meant consumers were able to access significantly larger volumes of e-liquid in a single purchase, with the knock-on effect of reducing footfall in store.
“Our first quarter focus on tobacco and vaping continues to paint a sobering picture for the independent convenience sector,” said Talysis MD Ed Roberts.
“The ban still isn’t working as intended, but is creating further pressure points for an already struggling sector. What was previously around £20m per week concentrated in disposable vapes is now spread across multiple subcategories.
“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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